







































Children and Teenagers 
ISSN 2576-3709 (Print) ISSN 2576-3717 (Online) 

Vol. 2, No. 1, 2019 
www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/ct 

72 
 

Original Paper 

Analysis of Pinterest as a Tool for Dissemination of Nutrition  

Information for Parents of Teenagers 
Holly A. Black1, Julie R. Schumacher1*, Rachel L. Vollmer2 & Tammy S. Harpel1 

1 Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA 
2 Bradley University, Peoria, IL, USA 
* Julie R. Schumacher, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA 

 

Received: May 3, 2019         Accepted: May 18, 2019          Online Published: May 24, 2019 

doi:10.22158/ct.v2n1p72                            URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.22158/ct.v2n1p72 

 

Abstract 

This study focused on exploring the type of nutrition information disseminated on the social media site, 

Pinterest. The information analyzed focused specifically on nutrition information for teenagers. Data 

were collected by purposive sampling based upon specific inclusion criteria. Five sets of search terms 

were used: teen breakfast healthy, teen lunch healthy, teen dinner healthy, teen nutrition and healthy 

snacks for teens. From these sets of search terms, 99 pins were collected for through mixed methods by 

two separate researchers. Data collected from the pins were compared to the MyPlate guidelines. At 

least one food group from MyPlate was featured in the information shared, with the majority of pins 

featuring two to five of the MyPlate guidelines. The results indicated that overall, the pins were not 

from nutrition-related credible sources; rather, the information came primarily from parents of 

teenagers sharing their personal experiences. In general, the nutrition information shared was mostly 

accurate, albeit vague. Due to the lack of nutrition-related credible sources, this study highlights a 

platform that registered dietitians and other health professionals could use to share relatable, 

evidence-based nutrition and wellness information to parents and adolescents. 

Keywords 

nutrition information, MyPlate, social media, Pinterest, teenagers, parents 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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1. Introduction 

MyPlate is produced by the United States Department of Agriculture as a visual representation to help 

Americans form balanced meals and support healthy eating and drinking habits (MyPlate, 2017). The 

MyPlate model replaced the MyPyramid in 2011 (A brief history of the USDA food guides, 2017). 

According to the CDC (2017), children ages 2-18 years have increased their consumption of fruit but 

not vegetables. While fruit consumption is increasing, it still falls short of the recommendations. On 

average, over 90 percent of children are not consuming the recommended servings of fruits and 

vegetables (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). 

Sixty-five percent of American adults use social media networks, according to Pew Research Center 

(2015). Social media has changed how Americans work, share political viewpoints, as well as search 

and retrieve health information—including nutrition information (Perrin, 2015). There has been an 

increase in Internet usage, and a large proportion utilize social media websites, such as Facebook, 

Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn via mobile devices or desktop (Duggan, 2015). According 

to the Pew Research Center, the use of Pinterest is steady, and users are predominately women younger 

than 50 years of age (Duggan, 2015). 

The internet and social networks provide a low-cost platform for increased reach of information 

dissemination (Cugelman, Thelwall, & Dawes, 2011). Over the recent years, over one-third of US 

adults used the internet and social media to seek health-related information, which prompted some to 

pursue additional medical advice (Fox & Duggan, 2013). According to Pew Research Center, 

approximately 80% of mothers accessed social media to research feeding practices for their children 

(Duggan, Lenhart, Lampe, & Ellison, 2015). The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has released 

guidelines for developing a social media marketing strategy in order to promote the use of social media 

as a layperson-friendly platform for credible information (O’Flahavan & Goulet, 2012). 

With ample access to nutrition information, research must also be conducted to determine how nutrition 

information is applied. Nutrition literacy is an emerging topic of interest in the realm of social media 

utilization. It consists of the use of literacy skills in order to analyze and apply nutrition-related 

information to one’s own life (Begley, 2014). Research has shown that individuals with higher levels of 

nutrition literacy tend to have healthier lifestyles (Silk et al., 2008). It has been noted that nutrition 

literacy is essential for healthy weight maintenance and overall healthful lifestyle choices (Brewer, 

Church, & Brewer, 2016). 

Research related to feeding practices and child nutrition have primarily focused on children under the 

age of five as well as breastfed babies (Doub, Small, & Birch, 2016b; McCann & McCulloch, 2012). 

Nutrition at these points in the lifespan is critical for growth and development, and research has shown 

that mothers seek information to best support healthy feeding practices (Doub, Small, & Birch, 2016b; 

McCann & McCulloch, 2012). However, there has been little research on information presented on 



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social media for adolescent or teenage nutrition in the US. Some research has focused on teens 13-17 

years old across Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom in regards to social media 

marketing for food and beverages, tobacco use, and alcohol use. It was found that increased exposure 

to potentially harmful products via social media marketing may impact the overall health of the teens 

(Dunlop, Freeman, & Jones, 2016). Because of this, more research is needed to determine how 

teenagers and their parents are retrieving nutrition information. 

Social media is generally defined as a networking platform with which users can share and retrieve 

information within a community setting, such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube. 

The purpose of this current study was to use existing information shared on Pinterest to analyze the use 

of social media in the retrieval of nutrition information focused on teenagers 13-19 years old. The 

primary research questions that guided this research study were: 1) Do pins on Pinterest related to 

teenage health and nutrition align to the MyPlate guidelines? 2) What is the credibility of 

nutrition-related information shared on Pinterest? 

 

2. Method 

2.1 Sample 

All data was collected based upon content analysis of public pins and boards on the social networking 

site, Pinterest. The sample of pins focused on teenage health, an age range of 13 to 19 years old. Using 

purposive sampling, search terms were applied and the first 25 pins that met inclusion criteria were 

pinned to a private board for data collection. The total sample size was 99 pins. 

2.2 Procedures 

The following methodology was adapted from research by Doub, Small, and Birch (2016a) and H. 

Brewer, Church, and S. Brewer (2016). Data was collected from the social networking site, Pinterest, 

using purposive sampling. Pinterest allows users to access a search bar in order to find specific types of 

information. Using this search bar, five sets of specific search terms were used in order to generate 

information on healthy items for teenagers. The sets of search terms included the following: teen 

breakfast healthy, teen lunch healthy, healthy snacks for teens, teen nutrition, and teen dinner healthy. 

Each set of search terms was typed into the Pinterest search bar, and the first 25 pins that met inclusion 

criteria were considered part of the sample. Five sample sets, each based upon the sets of search terms, 

had separate, private boards as a means to collect pins. Specific inclusion and exclusion criteria was 

applied to the pins. Only the pins that met inclusion criteria were qualitatively analyzed. This procedure 

was repeated for all five sets of search terms. A total of 99 pins were collected for all sets of search 

terms (Figure 1). 



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Figure 1. Purposive Sampling and Final Sample Size for Each Search Term 

 

2.3 Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria 

In order to collect data, pins were included if they were linked to content, such as a blog or recipe. 

Further, pins were included in data collection only if they were content-based with recipes and/or 

nutritional information. The pin also must have had information that focused specifically to teenagers’ 

ages 13 to 19 years and healthy food choices. Pins that were advertisements were excluded from data 

collection. Additionally, any pins that did not contain a direct link to content were excluded. For 

example, if the pin linked to only a picture and not a website, it was excluded from the sample set. Pins 

were also excluded if they were not considered relevant to the search terms, such as a pin that may be 

considered healthy but not related to teenagers. If the pin was a duplicate of the same link to 

information within a specific search term, it was also excluded. 

2.4 Data Collection 

From each pin included in data collection, several pieces of information were collected for mixed 

methods analysis. Information collected included: name of the pin, author of the pin, website link, 

credentials/background of information source (if applicable), type of post, and target population 

(gender, athletics, etc.). If available, data were collected on the number of re-pins or how often the 

information was shared. Information collected from pins was compared to MyPlate guidelines. Each 

link was analyzed to determine the inclusion of the five food groups of MyPlate: fruits, vegetables, 

grains, protein, and dairy. If a component of the food group was included in the recipe, it was 

documented as part of the data collection. Credible sources of information were defined as those with a 



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bachelor’s degree or higher in nutrition or credentials such as Registered Dietitian. Content was 

analyzed for trends in information collected from pins. After initial review of compiled data for themes 

in information, the data was reviewed by a separate researcher. The secondary researcher was trained to 

analyze pertinent nutrition information identified in the pins collected. In addition, the secondary 

researcher had previous knowledge on MyPlate guidelines prior to qualitative data analysis. Data were 

further analyzed with descriptive statistics. 

 

3. Results 

Pins were collected based upon inclusion criteria and data were analyzed qualitatively and 

quantitatively. Overall, the results from each search term met an average of three of the five MyPlate 

food groups which include fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. Some of the pins provided 

more in-depth nutrient information, but the overall collection of blogs, articles, slideshows, etc. focused 

on basic nutrition information and recipes targeting teens or a specific subset of teenagers, such as 

athletes. Table 1 provides a summary of the descriptive statistics, and Table 2 provides overarching 

themes found for each search term. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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Table 1. The Descriptive Analysis of Pins for Teenage Nutrition Collected on Pinterest 

 Number of 

Pins 

Collected 

Average 

Number 

of 

Re-pins 

Target 

Populations 

Number of 

Pins with 

Credible 

Nutrition 

Sources,  

n (%) 

Pins that 

Met All 

MyPlate 

Guidelines,  

n (%) 

Average 

Number of 

MyPlate 

Guidelines 

Met by Pins,  

n (%) 

Teen 

breakfast 

healthy 

24 221 Teen girls, 

tweens, teens, 

school-aged 

children, teen 

athletes 

 

3 (12.5) 8 (33) 3.79 (75.8) 

Teen lunch 

healthy 

24 1741 Teen girls, 

teen boys, high 

school 

athletes, 

tweens, teens 

 

1 (4.2) 15 (62.5) 4.5 (90) 

Teen 

dinner 

healthy; 

Teen 

supper 

healthy 

 

2 204 Teens 0 (0) 0 (0) 3 (60) 

Teen 

nutrition 

25 635 Teens, teen 

athletes, high 

schoolers, teen 

boys, teen girls 

 

6 (24) 14 (56) 3.8 (76) 

Healthy 

snacks for 

teens 

25 233 Teens, teen 

athletes, 

tweens 

3 (12) 10 (40) 3.96 (79.2) 

 



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Table 2. The Overarching Themes of Pins for Teenage Nutrition Collected on Pinterest 

Search Term Overarching Themes 

 

 

Teen breakfast healthy 

Primarily lacking in vegetables 

Main focus on grains and protein, usually in form of dairy 

Eggs and oatmeal were predominant foods observed 

Breakfast burritos, smoothies, and acai bowls were trendy options for teens 

Quick, easy to make by parents and/or teens 

 

 

 

Teen lunch healthy 

Large focus on back to school 

More vegetables included than breakfast 

Easy to grab-and-go, modifiable for picky eaters 

Specialty and themed lunch boxes were trendy 

Limited credible nutrition sources of information 

Some YouTube videos of teens sharing lunch ideas 

Different portion sizes based on gender for satiety concerns 

 

 

Teen dinner healthy 

Teen supper healthy 

Lack of information within these search terms 

“Teen-friendly” recipes featured 

Paleo cookbook written by a teen featured 

Parents likely more focused on healthy dinner ideas for whole family, not 

just teenagers 

 

 

Teen nutrition 

Vague information, fairly accurate 

Focus on adequate macronutrients, calcium 

Few sites contrasted with MyPlate recommendations (grains, dairy) 

Highlights gap in information for teen athletes 

 

 

Healthy snacks for 

teens 

No true “well-rounded” snack—complication of different MyPlate groups 

that can be mixed and matched 

Grab-and-go items featured 

Protein and carbohydrate or vegetable common pairings 

 

 

 

 



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3.1 Teen Breakfast Healthy 

The first search term yielded 24 pins that linked to content related to breakfast items for teens. The 

breakfast ideas shared in this set of data were primarily focused on protein and grains. The main 

sources of protein came from dairy products as well as eggs. One of the predominant foods observed 

from multiple pins was oatmeal, either in its original form or baked. Another trend that was observed 

was breakfast burritos or a variation of eggs with tortilla shells. Smoothies and acai bowls were also 

observed, which contributed adequate fruit servings. These smoothie and acai bowls also contained 

granola or chia seeds. Overall, the pins analyzed seemed to have a common trend of quick to make, 

either by the parents or teens themselves, as well as some that were intended to be portable. There was 

a distinct lack of vegetables observed in the shared information and pins. Of these pins, only eight pins 

(33%) provided enough information to meet all five MyPlate guidelines. On average, the pins sampled 

met 3.79 MyPlate guidelines (75.8%). The target populations of these pins were teen girls, school-aged 

children, tweens, and teen athletes. The number of credible nutrition-related sources was 12.5% (n=3). 

The average number of re-pins, or how often information was shared on Pinterest, was 221 times.  

3.2 Teen Lunch Healthy 

The second search terms yielded 24 pins that linked to content related to lunch items for teens. In 

general, these pins focused on school lunch options, grab-and-go ideas, as well as modifications for 

picky eaters. Based upon analysis of pins collected, specialty and themed lunch box ideas were popular 

options for teenagers at school. In general, many of the lunch options focused on sandwiches or wraps 

as well as salads. One of the interesting aspects of this data set is that some of the pins included in 

search criteria were linked to YouTube videos of teens who were preparing healthy lunch options. 

These videos were geared towards other teenagers, which made the content relatable.  

The lunch options analyzed had more vegetable options than the grain, protein, and fruit focus of 

breakfast items. Many of the authors of blogs shared a common theme of concern for healthy, 

well-balanced lunches to help teenagers focus and succeed in school. Some of the sources encouraged 

their teenagers to pack the lunch for themselves, while others focused on packing items they knew their 

children would consume. A few of the blogs focused on keeping teenagers full, specifically boys; these 

pins highlighted protein and whole grains as well as bigger servings for satiety. Of these pins, only one 

pin (4.2%) provided enough information to meet all five MyPlate guidelines. However, on average, the 

pins sampled met 4.5 MyPlate guidelines (90%). This search term had the largest average number of 

MyPlate guidelines featured in the content provided. The target populations of these pins were teen 

girls, teen boys, school-aged children, tweens, teens in general, and high school athletes. The number of 

credible nutrition-related sources was 62.5% (n=15), and the average number of re-pins was 1741 

times. 

 



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3.3 Teen Dinner Healthy 

The third search term only yielded one pin that met the inclusion criteria. A second search was 

performed under the search tern, teen supper healthy, and only one additional pin met inclusion criteria. 

Because of this, data analysis was only based upon two links. These pins highlighted ten dinner ideas 

that were termed teen-friendly as well as dinner recipes from a cookbook written by a teenager. Part of 

the commentary of the sources was geared towards recipes that pickier teens would approve of instead 

of wanting to eat fast food or at a restaurant. 

Recipes suggested were oven-fried chicken, quesadillas, and pasta, as well as hotdogs. Two salad 

recipes were also suggested, but one did not have a protein source. As for the link featuring a teenage 

cookbook author, the cookbook included only paleo recipes, avoiding certain food groups and nutrients. 

Due to this, only vegetables and protein were highlighted in the recipes. These pins focused on teens in 

general, and there was an average of 204 re-pins. The first link was not written by a credible 

nutrition-related source, and neither pin met all the guidelines for MyPlate. On average, the pins 

sampled met three MyPlate guidelines (60%). The second link was written by a private chef and 

full-time nutrition student; however, the commentary of the article was from a high school student with 

no nutrition-related credibility. 

3.4 Teen Nutrition 

The fourth search term yielded 25 pins that linked to content related to some type of nutrition advice 

for teens. In general, these pins focused on fairly accurate information related to carbohydrates, protein, 

and fats as well as their respective sources. There was mention in some of the links the concern for 

adequate calcium intake for bone health. Overall, the information shared was somewhat vague. A few 

of the pins focused on foods teens should be eating, which highlighted foods such as salmon, lentils, 

walnuts, avocados, dairy (specifically yogurt), as well as whole grains such as brown rice or quinoa. An 

article written by a dietitian focused on good nutrition for tweens and teens, specifically highlighting 

adequate hydration and the MyPlate principles. Two of the articles, including the one previously 

mentioned, directly referenced MyPlate for proper teen health and nutrition. There was one pin that 

promoted the Paleo Diet for teenage athletes, with an emphasis on a high-fat, high-protein, 

low-carbohydrate diet. Of these pins, 14 pins (56%) provided enough information to meet all five 

MyPlate guidelines. On average, the pins sampled met 3.8 MyPlate guidelines (76%). The target 

populations of these pins were teen girls, teen boys, teens in general, high school students, and teen 

athletes. The number of credible nutrition-related sources was 24% (n=6). The average number of 

re-pins was 635 times. 

 

 

 



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3.5 Healthy Snacks for Teens 

The final search term yielded 25 pins that linked to content related to snacks for teens. The focus of the 

different snacks shared seemed to be on grab-and-go for teens after school. One of the recurring 

themes was that the snacks needed to be easy and appealing to teens so that they choose them without 

prompting. Some of the trends in snacks included vegetables with low-fat dips or hummus, fruit and 

yogurt, popcorn, as well as peanut butter and trail mixes. Cheese sticks and sandwiches were also 

featured snacks. Sweet vegan snacks like muffins, granola bars, and homemade fruit roll-ups were the 

feature of one vegan-focused blog. Of these pins, 10 pins (40%) provided enough information to meet 

all five MyPlate guidelines. On average, the pins sampled met 3.8 MyPlate guidelines (79.2%). The 

target populations of these pins were teens in general, tweens and teen athletes. The number of credible 

nutrition-related sources was 12% (n=3). The average number of re-pins was 233 times. 

 

4. Discussion 

4. 1 Types of Nutrition Information Provided 

The research conducted in this study was primarily exploratory; however, certain themes arose through 

the course of data collection. Many of the pins found through the respective search terms were from 

parents pinning general healthy pins for their children. These types of pins did seem to adhere to most 

of the MyPlate guidelines based upon content analysis; however, they were not included in this study as 

they did not specifically focus on teenagers specifically. Overall, the majority of pins included in this 

study could be modified to include at least one more area of MyPlate. While a snack may not 

necessarily meet all five of the MyPlate guidelines, encouraging teenagers and their parents to strive to 

include as many as possible may help to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. This idea of 

incorporating more of MyPlate guidelines emphasizes a need for nutrition education. Many of the pins 

analyzed contained between two to five of the guidelines. On average, three of the five MyPlate 

guidelines were met within each search term. Basic nutrition education could promote the idea of 

adding one more element to make a meal well-rounded. For instance, an evening meal could contain 

whole grains, lean protein, dairy, and vegetables. This model is lacking a fruit component. Nutrition 

professionals could easily alleviate this by suggesting the addition of a fruit for dessert. As previously 

mentioned, the search term teen healthy dinner (teen healthy supper) only produced two results, which 

made it difficult to analyze. Due to the limited nature of these search terms, it is possible that parents 

may be more focused on healthy dinner recipes for the whole family. 

In addition to general, healthful information, some of the nutrition-related information shared via 

Pinterest centered on more specific areas of nutrition. Some of the information shared under the teen 

nutrition search term was geared towards weight loss, which could be an area of focus for teenagers or 

their parents. Adolescents tend to have a shift in self-esteem and body image due to the changes faced 



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during puberty (Markey, 2010). Previous research has shown that body image during this time of life is 

crucial to overall health and well-being, and higher levels of body dissatisfaction may result in low 

self-esteem and eating disorders (Markey, 2010). De Vries, Peter and de Graaf (2016) found that both 

adolescent boys and girls had higher levels of body dissatisfaction. They also had greater peer influence 

with increased time spent on social media, which adds to the growing body of research that has found 

correlation between body image and social media use. The researchers suggest that parents should be 

aware of this correlation and take preventative action (de Vries, Peter, & de Graaf, 2016). The 

information provided in pins was generally vague, focusing on a healthier diet, avoidance of junk foods 

and sugar-sweetened beverages, as well as recommendations for moderate exercise. Only a few of 

these sources mentioned calorie levels, but they mentioned it as a topic to discuss with a physician.  

Another specific area of focus from the pins included in the study were vegan and vegetarian 

considerations. Some of the pins were geared towards families that were vegetarian based upon ethical, 

ecological, or religious considerations. However, one source addressed how parents could help to 

transition mealtimes when their teenagers have made the decision to become vegetarian. Adolescents 

and teenagers are at a transitional period in which they are discovering their personal identities as well 

as developing their beliefs and morals (Cobb, 1992). This same period may result in newfound 

autonomy in food choices. One study analyzed the growing trends of adolescents becoming 

conscientious about where and how their food is grown (Bissonnette & Contento, 2001). With 

increasing awareness of sustainability practices and locally-grown agriculture, the environmental 

impacts of food production could influence teenagers to choose plant-based diets. 

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2016), vegetarian diets are rich in fiber and 

antioxidants while being low in saturated fat. Research has shown that there is a correlation between 

vegetarianism and lower risks of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, some cancers, and obesity. 

Teenagers can safely follow a vegetarian diet with the proper planning of complementary protein 

sources and well-balanced meals, although Vitamin B12 supplementation may be necessary if not 

consuming fortified food products (Melina, Craig, & Levin, 2016). The information shared in the pins 

sampled for the current study only provided recipes and alternative protein sources, such as soy, to 

meet protein requirements. This could be an area for Registered Dietitians to provide nutrition 

education to help teenagers and their parents safely form balanced, vegetarian meals. 

4.2 Credibility of the Nutrition-Related Information 

With the variety of information analyzed during this study, there were many different sources of 

information, some of which came from individuals with nutrition-related backgrounds. However, the 

majority of pins were written by the layperson; specifically, most of the information was written by 

mothers based upon personal experience as part of their journey through parenthood. While this 

information can be helpful to other parents with similar concerns, it does not make them credible 



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sources of nutrition-related information for teenagers. The online community of parent bloggers has 

come together to provide information via experience rather than credentials. Nutrition and health of 

children seem to be a unifying factor in the desire to write blogs and articles regarding the health of 

teenagers, especially if they are athletes with busy schedules or picky eaters. Previous research has 

found that parents will consistently seek out nutrition information in order to best support their child’s 

growth and development (McCann & McCulloch, 2012; Doub, Small, & Birch, 2016a). While this has 

not been studied in teenagers, it has been studied in both young children and babies being breastfed 

(McCann & McCulloch, 2012; Doub, Small, & Birch, 2016a). One study found that mothers who 

followed food and recipe blogs, especially those geared towards younger children, were more likely to 

let the food served as well as portion sizes be influenced by the information shared (Schneider, 

McGovern, Lynch, & Brown, 2013). 

One trend noted in content analysis was that of parents who use endorsements of perceived healthy 

food items in order to generate revenue. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulates blog 

endorsements. While it is legal to make money from product endorsements as a blogger, the FTC is 

specific on how endorsements must be stated clearly on the blog in order to not mislead readers (The 

FTC’s endorsement guide, 2015). Per the federal regulations, all blogs analyzed that sponsored 

products had a disclaimer. While these endorsements were clear, it poses the question of perceived 

healthfulness based upon certain ingredients or an organic label. While these products may be useful 

for parents, the main goal of endorsed posts is not to provide nutrition information. This concept was 

not the focus of the current study, but it is an area that requires ongoing research. 

In addition to the general layperson sharing nutrition information based upon experience, there were 

some questionable sources of information. These sources of information labelled themselves as holistic 

or health and beauty experts without mention of credentials supporting their expertise. Other sources of 

information came from various nutrition novels referenced loosely, in which individuals interpreted the 

information and applied it in their blogs. The recommendations from these sources included Paleo diet 

recommendations for teenage athletes and fear of food colorings in processed foods and beverages. 

Other advice that deviated away from MyPlate guidelines was the avoidance of added sugars as well as 

dairy products. MyPlate does briefly mention limiting added sugars as well as sodium; however, it is 

not yet part of the visual component of MyPlate. Information on added sugars includes new research 

suggesting that consumers, including teens, should limit their daily intake. The most recent Dietary 

Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020 included recommendations on the maximum amount of added 

sugars allowable in the diet without incurring the correlated health consequences. The Dietary 

Guidelines recommends less than 10 percent of calories daily from added sugars (U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services & U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2015). In contrast, dairy products have 

more speculation circulating in popular media sources regarding the health benefits. In general, the 



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argument against dairy is human consumption of dairy is not natural, which critics claim is the reason 

behind high rates of lactose intolerance (Gunnars, n.d.). However, a meta-analysis reviewed existing 

research and found that dairy consumption has many positive health benefits—such as lower rates of 

obesity and comorbidities including cardiovascular disease and diabetes—and no known adverse 

effects (Thorning et al., 2016). This meta-analysis was unable to compare plant-based dairy alternative 

to cow’s milk products due to a lack of research (Thorning et al., 2016).  

Analyzing the content of blogs and other information shared by parents of teenagers can determine the 

credibility of the information. However, the concept of sharing information via the Internet and 

technology is evolving. The Internet has become a wealth of information for many individuals, 

including the layperson. While the Internet enhances the ease of sharing and retrieving information, not 

all of the information comes from credible sources, as this current research has observed. This 

highlights the significance of Registered Dietitians and the increasing use of social media and the 

Internet as a means of disseminating evidence-based, credible nutrition information. One study 

analyzed the use of Twitter by dietitians in order to see what type of information is available for 

patients with heart failure (Hand, Kenne, Wolfram, Abram, & Fleming, 2016). They found that health 

professionals tend to be more inclined to use the Internet and social media for their own research, but 

they tend to doubt the credibility of information shared. This study also highlighted a gap in nutrition 

information and the potential for dietitians to remedy this in the future (Hand, Kenne, Wolfram, Abram, 

& Fleming, 2016). Other health care professionals are acknowledging the potential for outreach to the 

layperson in order to disseminate pertinent educational materials. One study focused on redesigning 

their website as well as increasing their presence on Twitter and Facebook in order to better engage 

their audience (Goldstein et al., 2013). This is a growing area of interest and further investigation is 

needed. 

4.3 Limitations of this Study 

As this study was exploratory, there are several limitations to be noted. One of the biggest issues with 

using Pinterest as a tool to research the search habits of parents of teenagers is that the algorithm used 

to populate pins is somewhat randomized based upon popularity of the pin and popularity of the person 

pinning the information, as well as the relevancy of the pin itself to the search criteria. Additionally, 

there were many pins of different pictures that all linked back to the same website. The Pinterest search 

engine does not eliminate duplicates of the same source of information. This made data collection 

difficult and limited the data available for analysis. The captions on pins also were factored into the 

search algorithm of Pinterest. Some of the captions of pins generated by the search terms used in this 

study were relevant to the inclusion criteria, but upon further inspection, the pin was completely 

irrelevant to actual content of linked website. This made pins appear misleading, as individuals who pin 

links can add any caption they desire, even if it does not directly relate to the content of the pin. 



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Another limitation of the search algorithm of Pinterest is the vague concept of teens. Using this search 

term generated a plethora of information, none of which had a specific age range of interest. Based 

upon observation, the pins included information on “tweens” (10-12 years old), 13- and 14-year-olds, 

as well as general high school students. Based upon the definition of the individual sharing the 

information, any of these age ranges could be perceived as teenagers.  

Additionally, the lack of pins specifically related to teenagers was a limitation. As previously 

mentioned, most pins contained general, healthful information and were not specific to teen dietary 

needs or considerations. For example, the search term teen dinner healthy generated 50 to 100 pins, but 

only one pin was specific to teenagers. Based upon the data analyzed in this study, there seems to be a 

lack of information geared towards teenagers. As demonstrated in previous research, the focus seems to 

be on children in elementary school or younger. Additionally, the information seems to shift to college 

students as well in preparation for newfound independence and necessity to learn to cook.  

The information analyzed in this study did not equally focus on specific populations. There seemed to 

be a distinct gender difference in the type of information shared. For example, information pertaining to 

weight loss was generally geared towards teenage girls. In contrast, information specific to teenage 

boys seemed to be geared more towards athletics and physical activity. While this study did not 

specifically focus on weight loss or sports nutrition, further research is needed to understand the gap in 

nutrition information in relation to gender.  

 

5. Conclusion 

The primary research question that this study set out to answer was “Do pins on Pinterest related to 

teenage health and nutrition align to the MyPlate guidelines”? Based upon the data collected, pins 

related to teen health generally correlate with MyPlate guidelines. Most of the pins analyzed contained 

at least one of the food groups from MyPlate. Overall, the information was somewhat vague, but the 

authors of the information tended to focus on adequate protein, inclusion of dairy, as well as the ease 

and convenience of food choices for busy, active teenagers. There is still concern regarding adequate 

fruit and vegetable intake, which highlights the need for nutrition education. The credibility of 

information seems to be concerning, as most of the sources of information were mothers of children 

and teenagers. However, there were a few articles written by nutrition experts such as Registered 

Dietitians. Teenagers could be a focus age range for Registered Dietitians to provide evidence-based 

nutrition education that is relatable and easy to implement by parents of teenagers. As this study was 

focused on exploratory research, more studies need to be conducted on the type of information 

disseminated on social media sites such as Pinterest, as well as how Registered Dietitians can use this 

platform to share relatable, evidence-based nutrition information. 

 



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