The Effect of China’s Family Structure on Household Nutrition

Abstract

China’s one-child policy has created entitled children or “little kings” who are spoiled by their parents and doting grandparents that want to provide the “best food” for their child to ensure the future of the family. In addition, seniors’ food preferences may influence the household’s diet. The extended family structure, typically including one child and seniors, will likely affect food expenditures, but does this provide the most nutritious or healthiest diet? Using household data collected from 11 Chinese cities, the results of this study suggest that the presence of a child or seniors, as well as higher income levels, and wife’s education level have significant effects on healthy household food consumption.