Marginal, Low, and Very-Low Food Security among Children Are Associated with Intake of Select Dietary Factors during Summer

Abstract

BackgroundSchool meals are associated with improved food security status and dietary intake. Children receiving free and reduced-price school meals lose access to these meals during the summer. The association between food security status and dietary intake in these children during summer is unclear. ObjectiveTo examine the association between food security status (high, marginal, low, and very-low food security) among children and intake of select dietary factors during summer in children certified for free and reduced-price school meals by age group (3 to 4 years, 5 to 8 years, 9 to 12 years, and 13 to 17 years). DesignCross-sectional analysis. Participants/settingSecondary data from 11,873 children aged 3 to 17 years in the control group of the US Department of Agriculture Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children Demonstration Project. Main outcome measuresConsumption of total fruits and vegetables; fruits and vegetables, excluding fried potatoes; whole grains; added sugars; added sugars, excluding cereals; added sugars from sugar-sweetened beverages; and dairy products assessed using questions from the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Multifactor Diet Screener. Statistical analysisMultiple linear regression. ResultsFor the majority of age groups, marginal food security, low food security, and very-low food security were associated with lower fruit and vegetable consumption and low food security and very-low food security were associated with lower dairy consumption, with children from households with very-low food security having the lowest consumption. Children from households with very-low food security consumed 0.73 (95% CI –0.93 to –0.53) to 0.99 (95% CI –1.59 to –0.39) cup equivalents less per day of fruits and vegetables and 0.49 (95% CI –0.65 to –0.34) to 0.68 (95% CI –1.07 to –0.29) cup equivalents less per day of dairy compared with children from households experiencing high food security. ConclusionsLower food security was associated with reduced consumption of fruits and vegetables and dairy products during summer in children from low-income households.