Hot Topics, Trends and Insights in the Field of Food Parenting Research: Data Visualisation and Analysis Based on CiteSpace

Abstract

Using 1,403 food education-related documents indexed in China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) from 2015 to 2025 as the sample, this study employs bibliometric analysis and visualization techniques. Leveraging CiteSpace to construct a knowledge map, it reveals the research landscape and evolutionary characteristics within this field. Findings indicate that while China's food education research has reached a certain scale, its quality requires improvement. Theoretical discussions are abundant, but practical explorations remain weak. Research subjects primarily focus on preschool-aged children, with insufficient attention to basic education and higher education. Keyword analysis reveals that research focuses on “food education curriculum,” “dietary behavior,” “cultural inheritance,” and “learning from Japanese experiences.” Existing research is largely confined to education studies, with insufficient interdisciplinary integration, limiting both theoretical depth and practical applicability. Future development requires multi-path approaches to advance systematic and in-depth research: breaking down disciplinary barriers to broaden perspectives and promote cross-disciplinary integration; fostering research communities to enhance collaborative problem-solving capabilities; and balancing theory with practice by strengthening curriculum implementation and effectiveness evaluation to promote high-quality development in food education research.