Convenience Stores: Source of Food/Beverages Among Children, What We Eat in America, NHANES, 2015–2018

Abstract

ObjectivesFood and beverage sales in convenience stores have increased over the past several years. This research presents results on convenience stores as a source of food and beverage consumption among U.S. children. MethodsThe study included nationally representative data from 5,281 children age 2–19 years participating in the What We Eat in America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015–2018. Dietary intake data, obtained from an in-person 24-hour recall, were collected using an interviewer-administered 5-step USDA Automated Multiple-Pass Method. For each food/beverage reported, participants were asked name of eating occasion, self-selected from a fixed list, and source where the item was obtained. Meal occasions included breakfast, lunch (includes brunch), and dinner (includes supper). Snack occasions included snack, drink, and extended consumption. Food/beverages (excluding plain bottled water) reported with the source of “Store – convenience type” included but were not limited to: convenience-type store, dollar store, drug store, gas station, gift shop, liquor/beer store. Differences were considered significant at P < 0.01. ResultsOverall, 17% of children consumed a food or beverage obtained from a convenience store on any given day. A greater percentage of children age 12–19 years (22%) and non-Hispanic black children (24%) consumed a food or beverage from a convenience store. A lower percentage of children from households with family income >350% of the poverty level consumed an item from a convenience store (12%) compared to children from lower and middle-income households. Among consumers of food/beverages from convenience stores, 17% of daily energy intake came from convenience store items, with the majority of energy from these items consumed during snack occasions. ConclusionsOn any given day, one out of six children obtained at least one food/beverage from a convenience store, with convenience store consumers having a different demographic profile than non-consumers. This highlights the importance of convenience stores to U.S. dietary intake and need for further research on socio-demographic differences. Funding SourcesUnited States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.