Early next year (2016) Family Included will be commencing its first collaborative international research study. The research focuses on increasing awareness about a healthy diet in pregnancy and during the transition to being a parent.

We are presently undertaking a systematic review of educational programs for diet and nutrition in pregnancy and when becoming a parent. Following this we will be exploring current diets, parenting styles, family influences and feeding practices of expectant mothers and their husband/families and children in Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.

We will be facilitating some focus groups with expectant parents and their family members. These participants will then have opportunities to attend EatWell workshops and also receive a complimentary healthy eating food hamper.

The research is being led by Professor Mary Steen (co-founder of Family Included) and she is being supported by a team of local and international researchers: Dr Natalie Parletta and Dr Rasika Jayasekara at the University of South Australia and Professor Basma Ellahi and Richard Mottershead from the University of Chester in UK.

The development of national guidelines following this research will be supported by Dr Vijaya Kumardhas and Dr S. Gurmadhva Rae from the RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, and by Johaina Idriss from the University of Chester and Duncan Fisher OBE, co-founder of Family Included.

This research is funded by the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research.

Photo: Joi Ito. Creative Commons.