biostudies-literatureHorning MLNational Center for Research ResourcesUniversity of Minnesota&apos;s Clinical and Translational Science InstituteNCATS NIH HHSNIDDK NIH HHSNCRR NIH HHSCenter for Adolescent NursingNational Institutes of Health60-66.e1https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5225036biostudies-literatureUnknown49(1)<h4>Objective</h4>To investigate reasons why parents purchase prepackaged, processed meals and associations with parental cooking self-efficacy, meal-planning ability, and home food availability.<h4>Methods</h4>This secondary data analysis uses Healthy Home Offerings via the Mealtime Environment Plus study data from parents of children aged 8-12 years (n = 160). Associations between reasons why parents purchase prepackaged, processed meals and the outcomes were assessed with chi-square, Fisher exact, and t tests.<h4>Results</h4>The most frequently endorsed reasons for purchasing prepackaged, processed meals included lack of time (57%) and family preferences (49%). Five of 6 reasons were associated with lower parental cooking self-efficacy and meal-planning ability. Some reasons were associated with less-healthful home food environments; few reasons varied by socio-demographic characteristics.<h4>Conclusions and implications</h4>Because lower cooking self-efficacy and meal-planning ability are associated with most reasons reported for purchasing prepackaged, processed meals, strategies to increase these attributes for parents of all backgrounds may reduce reliance on prepackaged processed meals for family mealtimes.Journal of nutrition education and behaviorReasons Parents Buy Prepackaged, Processed Meals: It Is More Complicated Than "I Don't Have Time".PMC52250361UL1RR033183R01 DK084000UL1 TR000114T80-MC00021UL1 RR033183R01 DK08400Horning MLFriend SEFulkerson JAStory MfalseReasons Parents Buy Prepackaged, Processed Meals: It Is More Complicated Than "I Don't Have Time".<h4>Objective</h4>To investigate reasons why parents purchase prepackaged, processed meals and associations with parental cooking self-efficacy, meal-planning ability, and home food availability.<h4>Methods</h4>This secondary data analysis uses Healthy Home Offerings via the Mealtime Environment Plus study data from parents of children aged 8-12 years (n = 160). Associations between reasons why parents purchase prepackaged, processed meals and the outcomes were assessed with chi-square, Fisher exact, and t tests.<h4>Results</h4>The most frequently endorsed reasons for purchasing prepackaged, processed meals included lack of time (57%) and family preferences (49%). Five of 6 reasons were associated with lower parental cooking self-efficacy and meal-planning ability. Some reasons were associated with less-healthful home food environments; few reasons varied by socio-demographic characteristics.<h4>Conclusions and implications</h4>Because lower cooking self-efficacy and meal-planning ability are associated with most reasons reported for purchasing prepackaged, processed meals, strategies to increase these attributes for parents of all backgrounds may reduce reliance on prepackaged processed meals for family mealtimes.2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Jan2025-06-01T02:33:05.748Z2025-06-01T02:33:05.748ZS-EPMC52250362774386010.1016/j.jneb.2016.08.012