LAUSR

Objective: To explore how families serve meals and how different service styles are associated with responsive feeding and child dietary and weight outcomes. Methods: Baseline data from a subset (n = 75) of randomized controlled trial participants (Healthy Home Offerings via the Mealtime Environment (HOME) Plus study, aged 8–12 years) were analyzed using a series of linear regression models. Adjusted means (95% confidence intervals) and beta coefficients (SEs) are presented. Results: Families were most likely to report plated meal service (36% of families), followed by family‐style (29%). Family‐style was significantly associated with a lower mean level of food restriction (P = .01). No significant associations were observed between style of meal service and child outcomes (all P > .05). Conclusions and Implications: Although plated meal service may seem like a desirable strategy for ensuring that children eat a healthier diet, the current results did not provide support for this association. Evidence was found to support the use of family‐style meal service to promote the use of responsive feeding.