To evaluate the association of sociodemographic factors and parental food consumption with children's food intake.

A cross-sectional survey.

A population-based study with a representative sample in a metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Parents’ socio-economic variables, age and education level and children's age were obtained by face-to-face interviews. The parental food intake was assessed using an FFQ and the children's food intake was assessed using two 24 h recalls.

Children (n 366) aged 6–30 months and their parents.

The hierarchical regression analysis indicated that parents’ age was positively associated with the intake of vegetables among children (β = 0·73, 95 % CI 0·11, 1·34), while parents’ educational level was positively associated with the intake of fats (β = 3·52, 95 % CI 0·04, 7·01) and negatively associated with the intake of beans (β = −13·98, 95 % CI −27·94, −0·03). The age of the children was positively associated with the intakes of meats and eggs (β = 2·88, 95 % CI 1·55, 4·22), sugars (β = 5·08, 95 % CI 1·85, 8·30) and coffee (β = 1·77, 95 % CI 0·71, 2·84), and negatively associated with the intake of vegetables (β = −2·12, 95 % CI −3·20, −1·05). The influence of parental food intake was observed for the food groups of breads, cereals and tubers (β = 0·06, 95 % CI 0·003, 0·12), beans (β = 0·11, 95 % CI −0·003, 0·22) and fruits (β = 0·10, 95 % CI 0·03, 0·16). Unfavourable socio-economic variables were associated with intakes of breads, cereals and tubers, vegetables, fruits, meats, sugars and coffee by children.

Parental food intake is associated with children's intake of cereals, beans and fruits independent of socio-economic status.