Consumption of Ready-to-Eat Cereal and Its Associations With Food Group Intake and Diet Quality in the United States, NHANES 2017–2018

Abstract

ObjectivesReady-to-eat cereal (RTEC) is a nutrient-dense food that has been associated with better nutrient intake. This study was conducted to examine the association between consumption of RTEC and food group intake and diet quality in the United States using the most recent nationally representative data. MethodsParticipants from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2018 were classified as RTEC eaters or non-eaters depending on whether RTEC was reported in their day-1 dietary recall. Food group intake was estimated from Food Patterns Equivalence Database 2017–2018. Diet quality was assessed by the Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015). Differences in food group intake and diet quality by RTEC consumption status were compared by ANOVA for survey, and were analyzed separately in children (2–17 y, N = 2135), adults 18–64 y (N = 3675), and older adults (65 y or older, N = 1221). ResultsConsumption of RTEC was associated with significantly higher intake of whole grains and dairy products, in all age groups examined (all P < 0.01). Children who consumed RTEC had a significantly lower intake of total protein foods (3.7 cup eq. vs 4.6 cup eq., P < 0.001) and vegetables (0.7 cup eq. vs 0.9 cup eq., P < 0.001) than non-eaters, however, intake of these food groups was not significantly different in adults 18–64 y or older adults by RTEC consumption status. Consumption of RTEC was not significantly associated with intake of added sugar in all age groups examined (all P > 0.05). Diet quality, as measured by HEI-2015 total score, was significantly higher in RTEC eaters than non-eaters in children, adults 18–64y, and older adults (all P < 0.01). ConclusionsThe results demonstrated that consumption of RTEC was associated with higher intake of whole grains and dairy products, but not with added sugar in the US population. RTEC consumption was also associated with better diet quality. Funding SourcesThe study was supported by Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition, General Mills, Inc.