Patterns of Ready‐to‐Eat Cereal Consumption and Nutrient Intakes Among Ready‐to‐Eat Cereal Eaters: Results from NHANES 2013–2014

Abstract

Ready‐to‐eat (RTE) cereal intake has previously been associated with improved nutrient intakes in both children and adults in the U.S. With this research, our objective was to investigate the latest patterns of RTE cereal consumption, as well as the contribution of RTE cereal to nutrient intakes in a representative sample of the U.S. population. Using data from the National Health and Examination Survey 2013–2014, we classified children (4–12 years; n = 1,540), adolescents (13–18 years; n = 992) and adults (≥19 years; n = 5,076) as RTE cereal consumers or RTE cereal non‐consumers according to one‐day 24 hour dietary recall data. Using appropriate study weights, we found that 40% of children, 27% of adolescents and 20% of adults reported consuming RTE cereal. The majority of RTE cereal was consumed at breakfast (84%, 82% and 80% of RTE cereal for children, teens, and adults, respectively) although RTE cereal consumption was reported at all eating occasions (lunch, dinner and snacks). The mean ± standard error serving size for all RTE cereals, including light‐weight, medium‐weight and heavy‐weight cereals as defined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, at breakfast was 35±2 g for children, 48±4g for adolescents and 50±2g for adults. The mean serving size of RTE cereal for snacks, the next most frequently reported eating occasion for RTE cereal, was smaller at 30±2g for children, 49±7g for teens, and 45±3g for adults. Taken together, the majority (44%, n=116) of children, adolescents and adults who reported consuming RTE cereal as a snack had it in the evening (8pm to midnight). When comparing total day nutrient intakes between RTE cereal consumers and RTE cereal non‐consumers, we found that children, adolescents and adults who consumed RTE cereal had higher intake of several nutrients including B‐vitamins, calcium, fiber, iron, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin D, and zinc while intake of total fat and sodium were lower among RTE cereal eater (all p<0.05). There was no difference total energy intake between RTE cereal consumers and non‐consumers for children, teens and adults. Total sugar intake did not differ between RTE cereal consumers and RTE cereal non‐consumers for children (110±3 g/day vs 115±3 g/day, p=0.20) and teens (123±4 g/day vs 121±5 g/day, p=0.77) although it was higher in adults (109±1 vs 122±4 g/day, p=0.01). RTE cereal contributions to daily nutrient intakes were 23–57% for B‐vitamins, 6% for calcium, 17–20% for fiber, 46–54% for iron, 10–11% for magnesium, 28–34% for vitamin A, 19–22% for vitamin D, and 29–38% for zinc while contributing 8–10% of daily energy intake. Overall, these findings indicate that RTE cereal is a popular breakfast and snack food that makes important contributions to total nutrient intake in children, adolescents and adults.Support or Funding InformationFunded by the Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition, General Mills, Inc.