Beverage consumption among young children of different race/ethnic backgrounds from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

Abstract

Early beverage choices are a predictor of children's later beverage consumption, nutrient intakes and body weight. Beverage intakes and associated calories and nutrients were examined using NHANES 2009–2010 for non‐Hispanic white (NHW), non‐Hispanic black (NHB) and Hispanic American (HA) children <1–5 y (n=1,442) with reliable Day 1 24‐hr recalls. By 1 y of age, 22, 31 and 26% of NHW, NHB and HA, respectively, consume fruit drinks, and 11, 5 and 12% drink soda. Fewer NHB children (67%) drink milk than HA (78%), and those who do consume 12.6 oz./d, about 3–5 oz./d less than HA or NHW (p<0.01). NHB are most likely to consume fruit drinks (40% vs. 28% HA, 29% NHW; p<0.05) with 12.5 oz. consumed daily. HA (23%) are most likely to consume soda, but drink smaller amounts than NHB (6.3 oz./d; p<0.05). More HA (60%) drink 100% fruit juice than NHW (50%; p<0.05). HA who drink fruit juice consume less daily than NHB (8.2 oz. vs. 9.7 oz.; p<0.01). For milk drinkers, milk contributes 63–74% of total daily vitamin D, 43–52% of calcium and 25–35% of potassium intakes, at 15–21% of calories. For those who drink soda and fruit drinks, these beverages supply 26–34 and 32–40% of added sugar intake, respectively. Children from all race/ethnic groups, particularly NHB, can benefit from drinking milk while reducing consumption of nutrient‐poor beverages to help improve their diets. Supported by the Dairy Research Institute/National Dairy Council.