Dietary habits of adolescent females

Abstract

The dietary intakes of 178 females (mean age was 12.8 ± 0.1 (S.E.M.)) were determined through 24‐hour diet recalls in both the fall and spring of one school year. The average subject consumed less than the recommended number of servings of three of the Basic Four food groups. Dietary intake at all meals but lunch, were similar in the fall and spring. Differences in the dietary intake at lunch may have occurred because fewer girls selected National School Lunch Program's Type A lunches in the spring than in the fall. Subjects who did select Type A lunches consumed more servings from the Basic Four groups than those subjects eating a la carte items or sack lunches. Subjects who selected Type A school lunches were significantly younger than those who selected d la carte items. Ninety percent of the subjects snacked at least once during the day. About half of the food consumed during snacks could not be classified as being representative of any of the Basic Four food groups.