Meal composition and meal skipping behaviors differ between low‐income Puerto Ricans and Non‐Puerto Rican pregnant Latinas

Abstract

A longitudinal study (n=234) was conducted to examine differences in meal composition and meal skipping behaviors between Puerto Rican and Non‐Puerto Rican pregnant Latinas. Participants were asked the frequency of and reasons for skipping meals during pregnancy. A single 24‐hour dietary recall was collected at baseline. Mean age was 24 ± 5y. 94% of the participants were in their second to third pregnancy trimester. Puerto Ricans comprised 69% of the sample. Approximately 61% of dark green/orange vegetable servings were consumed during lunch among Non‐Puerto Ricans compare to 6% among Puerto Ricans. 45% of meat servings were consumed during dinner among Puerto Ricans compare to 31% among Non‐Puerto Ricans. 52% of the sample (n=122) skipped meals during the week. Puerto Ricans were more likely to skip lunch (p<.02). Non‐Puerto Ricans were more likely to skip dinner (p<.001). Among Non‐Puerto Ricans eating a late lunch (34.6%) and not being used to eating at night (11.5%) were reasons for skipping dinner. For Puerto Ricans not having an appetite (20%) and experiencing nausea (33.3%) were reasons for skipping dinner. These ethnic‐based differences in meal composition and meal skipping patterns call for nutrition education targeting different Latina subgroups during pregnancy. Funded by the Connecticut NIH EXPORT Center of Excellence for Eliminating Health Disparities among Latinos (NIH‐NCMHD Grant # P20MD001765).