Nutritional nesting of first-time expectant fathers: A longitudinal study in the UK.

Objectives: To explore how UK first-time expectant fathers engage with the physical home food environment (PHFE), assesses whether the transition to fatherhood acts as a ‘teachable moment’ for healthier PHFE and situate results within diverse cultural perspectives. Design: A longitudinal mixed methods observational study of first-time expectant fathers in the UK. Participants took part in individual, face-to-face interviews during pregnancy (n = 14) and all were re-interviewed postpartum; 13 completed the pregnancy questionnaire and 14 the follow-up questionnaire. Methods: Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes, based on 28 interviews (14 during pregnancy and 14 postpartum with the same individuals), focusing on their attitudes and practices regarding the PHFE. Quantitative data from food frequency questionnaires (n = 13 during pregnancy and n = 14 postpartum) were also analyzed to track changes in dietary patterns. Results: Five themes identified from the interviews: pregnancy-driven PHFE opportunities, practical guidance needs, accessibility barriers, centrality of PHFE planning, and desire for creativity; alongside strong prenatal motivation that is difficult to sustain postpartum. FFQ data suggested difficulties in maintaining a healthy diet during the transition to fatherhood, with low vegetable home accessibility, and increased intake of coffee and low-calorie drinks. Conclusions: The PHFE is pivotal in the transition to fatherhood, serving as both a stabilizing anchor and foundation for a healthy family lifestyle. Pregnancy enables intentional PHFE planning ahead of parenthood's demands. Clear, culturally tailored guidance should be integrated into antenatal support to help expectant fathers maintain healthy home food environments postpartum.