6.5 Interview Questions

• Are there any health concerns you want to share so that I can help you take good care of your baby and your family?
• Tell me about your living situation. Do you have enough heat, hot water, and electricity? Do you have appliances that work?
• Do you have what you need to take care of your baby? Do you have enough money for food, clothing, diapers, a crib, childcare?
• How much weight have you gained so far during your pregnancy?
• Are you taking prenatal vitamins? Other vitamins or minerals?
• Are you taking any medications?
• Do you drink alcohol or special teas?
• Have you used any special or traditional health remedies since you have been pregnant?
• Are you restricting any foods in your diet because of food allergies, worry about weight gain, vegan or vegetarian diet, or any other reason?
• How do you plan to feed your baby, by bottle feeding or breastfeeding?
• Do you have any problems with your teeth? Does the water you drink contain fluoride?

• How do you think feeding is going for you and your baby? Do you have any questions?
• How often do you feed your baby?
• Does your baby receive anything else besides breastmilk or infant formula?
• How does your baby let you know when he is hungry? How do you know when to stop feeding him?
• Do you ever worry about not having enough money to buy food?
• What is your source of cooking and drinking water? Do you use bottled or processed water?
• How do you feel about the way your baby is growing?

Nutrition

• What concerns do you have about your child’s eating behavior or growth?
  
• What concerns, if any, do you have about your child’s weight?
• What do you do if your child doesn’t like a particular food?
• Do you enjoy sharing meals and snacks with your child?
• Do you have all of the equipment you need to feed your child? (A highchair or booster seat?  Dishes, eating utensils?)
• Do you have any concerns about the food served to your child when he is away from home?
• What is the source of drinking and cooking water for your child? Do you use bottled or processed water?
• Are you concerned about having enough money to buy food?

Physical Activity

• How much physical activity does your child get on a weekly basis?
• How much time does your child spend watching television or playing on the computer or video games?
• Does your child watch television while eating?

Nutrition

For the child:

• Which meals do you usually eat each day?
• How many snacks do you have? What snacks do you eat?
• How often does your family eat meals together?
• What are your favorite foods?
• Are there any foods you won’t eat? Which ones?
• What do you usually drink with your meals? With snacks?
• What fruits and vegetables, including any juices, did you eat or drink yesterday?

For the parent:

• How often does your family eat meals together?
• Do you have any concerns about your child’s eating habits or behaviors (e.g. getting her to drink enough milk)?
• Do you think your child eats healthy foods? Why or why not?
• How often does your child eat breakfast?
• What does he usually eat for snacks?
• Where does your child eat snacks? At home? At school? At after-school care? At a friend’s house?
• What does your child usually drink? (Milk, juice, water, sports drinks, soda?)
  

For the child or parent:

• Who usually buys the food for your family? Who prepares it?
• Are there times when there is not enough food to eat or not enough money to buy food?

Physical Activity

For the child:

• What do you do to be physically active? How often?
• How much time do you spend being active?
• How much time do you spend each day watching TV or playing computer or video games?
• What do you think you can do to be more active?

For the parent:

• What types of physical activity does your child engage in? How often?
• How much time does your child spend each day watching television of playing computer or video games?

Eating Behaviors and Food Choices

For the adolescent:

• Which meals do you usually eat each day?
• How often do you snack? What snacks do you eat?
• How often do your family members eat meals together?
• What do you eat in the morning? The afternoon? In the evening? Between meals?
• Are there any foods you won’t eat? Which ones?
• How often to you drink milk? Is it low-fat, fat-free, or another kind? What other milk products do you consume? 
• What fruits and vegetables, including juices, did you eat or drink yesterday?
• How often do you drink soft drinks, energy drinks, or sports drinks?
• What changes would you like to make in the way you eat?

For the parent:

• How often do your family members eat meals together?
• Do you have any concerns about your teenager’s eating behaviors?
• Do you think your teenager eats healthy foods? Why or why not?

For the adolescent or parent:

• Who usually buys the food for your family? Who prepares it?
• Are there times when there is not enough food to eat or not enough money to buy food?

Weight and Body Image

For the adolescent:

• How do you feel about the way you look?
• Do you think that you weigh too little? Too much? Why?
• Are you trying to change your weight? How?

For the parent:

• How do you feel about your teenager’s weight and height?

Physical Activity

For the adolescent:

• What do you do to be physically active?
• How much time do you spend being active in a week?
• What physical activity would you like to do?
• How much time do you spend each day watching television and playing video or computer games?
• What do you think you can do to be more active?

For the parent:

• What type of physical activity does your teenager engage in? How often?
• How much time does your teenager spend watching TV or playing video games or on the computer?