Food pattern, diet quality, and related characteristics of schoolchildren in New York State

Abstract

Objectives To examine the food patterns and diet quality of elementary schoolchildren in New York State (outside of New York City) and to determine sociodemographic characteristics correlated with diet quality. Design A nonquantitative 24-hour recall administered to students and a brief questionnaire completed by parents. Sample 1,797 second and fifth graders (51% of those asked) in 51 randomly selected schools (46% of those asked) in New York State outside of New York City. Statistical analyses Multiple regression analyses, η 2, and t tests. Results On the day they were surveyed, 40% of students did not eat vegetables, except for potatoes or tomato sauce; 20% did not eat fruit; 36% ate at least four different types of snack foods, and 16% of fifth graders did not eat breakfast. Children who ate a school lunch ate significantly more dairy foods and fruits and vegetables, and fewer snack-foods than those who brought lunch from home. Fifth graders ate significantly more snack foods and were more likely to skip breakfast than second graders; boys had lower food-group pattern scores than girls; children of lower socioeconomic status had less diverse diets but ate less snack foods than children of higher socioeconomic status; children with single parents were more likely to skip breakfast and to eat fewer vegetables than those with two parents; and children with mothers employed outside the home had less diverse diets than those with mothers at home. Applications/conclusions The findings indicate that nutrition interventions are clearly needed for this age group and that targeted messages should be based on sociodemographic characteristics.