Food Consumption Patterns Of Children Research Articles

Total Usual Nutrient Intakes and Nutritional Status of United Arab Emirates Children (4 Years-12.9 Years): Findings from the Kids Nutrition and Health Survey (KNHS) 2021.

This study aims at investigating the anthropometric status and food consumption patterns of children in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and assessing their adherence to nutrient and dietary recommendations. It is a population-based cross-sectional survey of 690 children (4-12.9 years), from 3 major Emirates. Socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics were collected. Dietary intakes were assessed using the 24-hour recall approach. Of the total sample, 4% were stunted, 8% were wasted and 28% were overweight/obese. A third of participating children consumed above the Estimated Energy Requirement, while the majority's intakes carbohydrate, total fat, and protein were within the recommendations; whereas over 70% and 90% of participants consumed above the WHO daily limits of free sugars and saturated fats, respectively. Inadequate intakes of linoleic acid (36% of children), alpha-linolenic acid (91%) and dietary fiber (100%) were observed. All children failed to meet the recommendation for vitamin D and considerable proportions had inadequate intakes of vitamin A, calcium, zinc, folate, and magnesium. Compared with the American Heart Association/American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, low dietary adherence was noted for fruits (9%), vegetables (4%), and milk/dairy (14%). These findings may be used in the development of nutritional policies aimed at improving the diets of children in the UAE.

Beliefs About Body Weight and Practices of Regulating Food and Physical Exercise Patterns of Children Among Parents in Southern Ethiopia.

BackgroundThe problem of childhood obesity is often associated with cultural values of body weight which includes the belief that voluptuous body size is a sign of good health status and better parental care. We examined the beliefs and behaviors of parents pertaining to preferred body weight of children, including practices of management of feeding and physical exercise patterns of children in southern Ethiopia.MethodsUsing cross-sectional survey study design, a structured questionnaire was distributed to randomly selected parents. Quantitative data were collected from 215 respondents, inserted into SPSS software, and analyzed by frequency and percentage distributions, charts, and multinomial logistic regression techniques.ResultsMost (59.1%) respondents want their child’s body weight to be normal/neither fat nor thin. In addition, 58.2% of the study participants held the opinion that average body size is an indication of good health status. Furthermore, 72.6% of respondents revealed that they control the amount of food their child consumes with the aim of preventing obesity/overweight. Moreover, 79.5% of respondents encourage their children to sometimes walk on foot, instead of always relying on vehicles while 87% of them replied that they regulate the amount of time their children spend watching TV. Above all, parents’ preference of voluptuous body size of children is significantly associated with age (OR=61.52.448, P < 0.001, 95%C.I: 57–66.14), educational status (OR = 35.605, P < 0.001; 95%C.I: 6.050–209.524), sex (OR = 0.237, P < 0.05; 95%C.I: 0.078-0.724) and grownup area (OR = 2.869, P < 0.05; 95%C.I: 1.062–7.749).ConclusionParents not only have adequate level of awareness regarding the health risks of children’s heavy body weight but also engage in the body weight management practices of their children such as by regulating the food consumption patterns of children, encouraging them to undertake physical exercises, and by being role models while doing physical exercises for themselves.

Total Usual Nutrient Intakes and Nutritional Status of United Arab Emirates Children (

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe transition from a predominantly milk-based diet to a diverse family diet is a window of opportunity for optimal child growth and development.ObjectivesThe study aims to examine the nutritional status and food-consumption patterns of children under 4 y of age in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and their adherence to nutrient and dietary recommendations.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional survey of 525 children aged 0–47.9 mo was conducted in 3 major emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah. Anthropometric measurements were obtained, and dietary assessment was conducted using the 24-h dietary recall approach. Usual intakes of energy, macronutrient, and micronutrients, including from supplements, were assessed using PC-SIDE software. Adherence to food-group recommendations was evaluated based on the American Heart Association/American Academy of Pediatrics dietary guidelines.ResultsAmong 0–4-y-old children, 10% were stunted, 6% were wasted, 17% were at risk of overweight, 5% were overweight, and 3% were obese. The contribution of sweets and sugar sweetened beverages to energy intake increased from 5% in 6–11.9-mo-old children to 17% in 36–47.9-mo-old children. Compared with dietary guidelines, the lowest adherence was for fruit (13–18%) and vegetables (7–12%), while protein was within the recommendations, and 92% and 89% of children (aged 24 to 35.9 mo and 36 to 47.9 mo, respectively) had high intakes of saturated fat. Almost all toddlers failed to meet the Adequate Intake for fiber. The proportions of children exceeding the free-sugar upper limit increased from 10.6% in infants (0–5.9 mo) to 56.7% in toddlers (12– 23.9 mo). Micronutrient inadequacies were observed, particularly for calcium, zinc, folate, and vitamins A and D.ConclusionsThis study suggests a triple burden of malnutrition among infants and young children in the UAE. Results call for national nutrition intervention strategies aimed at improving dietary quality in the pediatric population.

Faktor-faktor yang Mempengaruhi Pola Makan Siswa Sekolah Dasar di Kabupaten Banyumas

Good nutrition during childhood is necessary for growth and development, health, well-being, and prevention of obesity and several other chronic diseases. Children's eating practices can also have short- and long-term health consequences, increase the risk of some non-communicable diseases (PTM), and contribute significantly to the burden of preventable diseases and premature death. School-age children have the characteristics of a lot of physical activity so that they require sufficient energy to meet their activity and growth needs. In general, the factors that influence diet are physical activity, education, knowledge of nutrition, work status and family socioeconomic status. This study aims to see the factors that influence the diet of elementary school children in Banyumas Regency. Data collection using Google Forms to prevent the transmission of the Covid-19 virus. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis to determine the factors that influence the diet of school children. The results showed that physical activity (0.045), age (0.27), mother’s education (0.37), knowledge of nutrition (0.34), employment status (0.12), eating patterns (0.34) and family income (0.25) affects food consumption pattern of children with a level of confidence, while gender does not affect the diet of school children. This study concludes that mother’s factors greatly affect the dietary consumption patterns of school children.

Socioeconomic settings and food consumption patterns of 2–5-year-old children in developed countries: a scoping review

Introduction: Early childhood overweight and obesity, as a result of unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary life, is a growing global public health concern, particularly in Canada. There are limited data on how socioeconomic factors influence dietary habits of young children living in developed countries. Methods: We conducted a scoping review to examine the existing literature on how socioeconomic settings influence food consumption patterns of children 2–5 years old in developed countries. The inclusion criteria were relevant articles in the English language between 2007 and 2019. Results: From the initial 1854 articles, only 12 articles from Europe, Canada, and the United States met the inclusion criteria. There are differences in eating patterns of preschool-aged children based on parental education, whereas income level did not have a clear influence on dietary patterns. The existing studies suffer from a variety of limitations that limit a cohesive conclusion. Conclusion: Studies with children 2–5 years old are scarce. Parental education seems to influence the dietary habits of young children, whereas the role of income is not clear. There is a need for further high-quality research, preferably longitudinal studies, to inform health promotion initiatives and preventive strategies to facilitate healthy growth and development in young children.

Impact of Working Status of Mothers on Nutritional Status of their Preschool Children from Selected Rural Areas and Urban Slums of Pune: A Preliminary Study

Background: Women augment family income by working; however, this reduces the time for childcare and may adversely influence the nutritional status of children. Objectives: A preliminary study was conducted to assess the impact of mothers’ working status on the nutritional status of their preschool children (2-5 years). Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 80 mother-child dyads (40 each from rural areas, and urban slum of Pune). Information on mothers’ working status, socio-demographics, socioeconomics and food consumption pattern of children were collected. The children’s anthropometric indices, namely, Z-scores of weight-for-height (WHZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ) were estimated. Results: The study did not find any significant difference in the nutritional status of children with respect to the working status of their mothers. It was found that children of formally educated mothers had significantly higher mean Z-scores for WAZ(p=0.050) and WHZ (p=0.035)); children who received family-based childcare practice had higher mean WAZ(p=0.039) and WHZ(p=0.005), and children whose fathers were in skilled occupation had higher mean HAZ(p=0.040) scores. Children who frequently consumed chocolates and candies had lower mean HAZ(p=0.039) and WAZ(p=0.005), and used savories had significantly lower mean WAZ(p=0.045), and HAZ(p=0.019) scores. Conclusion: The present study indicates the importance of sociodemographic factors and the necessity for appropriate nutritional care for young children of working mothers.

Food Consumption Patterns among Pre-School Children 3 - 5 Years Old in Mateka, Western Kenya

Hunger and malnutrition are burdens that are pronounced in developing countries where they manifest themselves in the forms of protein energy malnutrition. Malnutrition compromises the child’s immune system leading to direct mortality and increased vulnerability to infectious diseases stunting and poor brain development. This study sought to analyze the food consumption patterns of children 3 - 5 years old attending Mateka Primary school, Bungoma County. This study adopted a cross sectional survey. One hundred and twenty five (125) children selected from three ECD classes in the school formed the sample size. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the study area and the children respectively. Structured questionnaires were administered to the caregivers of the children. Information on demographics, socio-economic status, and food consumption patterns were gathered. Food consumption patterns were assessed using a HDDS and a quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Socio-demographic data was analyzed using (SPSS) Version 21 (2007) and dietary data was analyzed using Nutri-Survey for Windows (2007). Results revealed that most of the households were of low socio-economic characteristics. The most consumed foods were cereals, roots and tubers. Majority (55.2%) of the children had low dietary diversity, 29.1% had medium dietary diversity and 15.7% had greater dietary diversity. The children were deficient in energy, protein, Vitamin A, Iron and Zinc. It can be concluded that the diets fed to the children are inadequate to meet their nutrient intakes for physiological development and growth. Further research should be done to document the prevalence of micronutrient malnutrition among the children.

A study on the nutritional status and food consumption pattern of school going children alongwith suggested healthy receipes

Malnutrition is widely recognized as a major health problem in developing countries. Growing children in particular are most vulnerable to its consequences. Cases with mild-to-moderate malnutrition are likely to remain unrecognized because clinical criteria for their diagnosis are imprecise and are difficult to interpret accurately. Malnutrition are one of the largest public health problems of our country. It is a condition which arises due to the deficiency of protein and calorie in the diet. Although it affects all ages, the results are drastic in childhood due to the highest requirements in that period. Malnutrition limits development and the capacity to learn. It also costs lives: about 50 per cent of all childhood deaths are attributed to malnutrition. In India, around 46 per cent of all children below the age of three are too small for their age, 47 per cent are underweight and at least 16 per cent are wasted. Many of these children are severely malnourished. The present study was carried out on 200 school going children in selected area of Varanasi by cluster and purposive random sampling method. Maximum children were belong to age group 10 to 15 years. Measurements were taken by standard techniques (Jelliffee, 1968). Pre-tested and pre-designed questionnaire was used in the survey. The present study is undertaken to evaluate the food consumption pattern of children and its relation with their BMI. Out of which 92.5 per cent were underweight and 7.5 per cent were normal. The daily food intakes of school going children were lower than RDA. The data revealed that wheat, pulses, rice and vegetables are consumed daily and on the other hand fruits, milk and milk product, oil and fats, sugar and jaggery are less consumed. Therefore, the method of preparation of some recipes are suggested for malnourished children. These recipes were evaluated by numerical scoring test and their nutritive value was determined by standard methods.

Dietary adequacy of rural school children among bambara groundnut growing farmers in Ntchisi district of Malawi

In Malawi, malnutrition among school-aged children as indicated by 30% stunting, 18% underweight and 3% wasting levels is a problem that is being addressed through school feeding programs. The nutritional status of school going children is dependent on household food security, education level of the parents, food preference of the parents and food preparation constraints. These factors affect food consumption patterns of children which is one of the determining factors of nutritional status. A study was, therefore, conducted to explore the food consumption patterns and diet adequacy for school going children aged 7-9 years in Kalira EPA of Ntchisi district in Malawi. Seventy eight school children whose parents were involved in bambara groundnut (Vigna unguiculata) farming were recruited for the study. Demographic information and data on food consumption pattern and intake during postharvest and pre-planting periods was collected using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire included an interactive 24-hour dietary recall and dietary diversity score (DDS) tools. The children came from mainly male-headed households (91%) with 6 ± 2 members. The household heads had attained upper primary education and their main (89.7%) occupation was farming. The school-age children were consuming two carbohydrate based meals per day accompanied with leafy vegetables (34.1%) or stewed pulses (46.6%). Nsima (a stiff porridge made from maize flour) and thin maize flour porridge were the dominant carbohydrate sources in the diet. Only 12% of the children reported consuming animal source foods. Most of the school children were eating three times or less in a day with lunch and supper as the major meals. The diet of the school children did not meet the recommended dietary allowance for energy (69%), fat (21%), vitamin A (24%), iron (65%) and calcium (28%). However, the diet was providing adequate protein intake for the children. Snacks in the form of roasted sweet potatoes or maize and bananas were provided to 26.1% of the school children when going to school, while only 28.4% were provided with breakfast before going to school. Breakfast consisted of black tea or porridge made from whole maize flour. Diets of the majority (68%) of the school going had minimum diversity according to the diversity score. The dietary pattern for the school children was the same during the postharvest and pre-planting period.

Infant feeding practices and food consumption patterns of children participating in WIC.

To describe feeding practices and food consumption of infants and children participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). National, cross-sectional analysis of 24-hour dietary recall data from the 2008 Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study. Random sample of infants (6-11 months of age), toddlers (12-23 months of age), and preschoolers (24-47 months of age); WIC participants (n = 794) and nonparticipants (n = 2,477). Breastfeeding rates, introduction to solids, food consumption. Used weighted descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and t tests to identify dietary outcomes unique to WIC participants vs nonparticipants. Compared with nonparticipants, fewer WIC infants were breastfed (P < .01) and consumed any vegetable (P < .05) but more consumed 100% juice (P < .05). Fewer WIC toddlers and preschoolers consumed any fruit vs nonparticipants (P < .01). The WIC toddlers were more likely to consume any sweet vs nonparticipants (P < .05), especially sugar-sweetened beverages (P < .01). Over 80% of all preschoolers consumed any sweet, and nearly half consumed sugar-sweetened beverages on an average day. Findings identify feeding and dietary issues that begin during infancy and are also present in toddler and preschool stages. These findings are useful for WIC nutritionists and health care practitioners to encourage the early development of healthful eating patterns.

Tracking obesogenic food consumption patterns of children in The Pacific Islands Families Study 2004–2006

Tracking obesogenic food consumption patterns of children in The Pacific Islands Families Study 2004–2006

Exclusive breastfeeding duration and later intake of vegetables in preschool children

To examine whether a relationship exists between exclusive breastfeeding duration and later vegetable consumption in 4-year-old children, independently of factors traditionally associated with children's vegetable intake. A longitudinal study using information collected on children's food consumption patterns and behaviors from a representative sample of children born in 1998 in the province of Québec, Canada. Face-to-face interviews and self-administered questionnaires were addressed to children's mothers and fathers. From the first group of children (n=2100) included in the cohort, a subsample of 4-year-old children participated in a nutrition substudy (n=1549). Children whose mothers held a university degree had odds of 8.7 (95% CI: 4.23-17.93) for consuming two or more servings of vegetables a day at 4 years of age (vs less than one serving per day) in comparison to children of mothers with no high school diploma. Likewise, children who were exclusively breastfed for 3 or more months had odds of 2.6 (95% CI: 1.34-5.02, with 3 to <4 months of exclusive breastfeeding) and 1.9 (95% CI: 1.01-3.61, with 4 or more months of exclusive breastfeeding) for consuming two or more servings of vegetables per day (vs less than one serving per day) in comparison to children who were formula-fed and/or partially breastfed (no exclusive breastfeeding). The findings suggest that three or more months of exclusive breastfeeding is a predictive factor for higher vegetable consumption in preschool children.

Food Consumption Patterns of Children in Dominican Schools

This project investigated food group and traditional versus nontraditional food consumption for primary school children in the Commonwealth of Dominica, British West Indies. A total of 198 children in grades 2 to 5 provided 24-hour recalls in year 1 and 196 provided recalls in year 2 (the mean age of the participants was 8.6 years in year 1 and was 9.6 years in year 2). Food items were ranked by average weight consumed and by number of children who consumed that food. It was found that food groups frequently consumed in Dominica were similar to findings in the United States and Great Britain. More traditional than nontraditional foods were consumed, although with a decline in local agricultural production; Dominica may be at the beginning of a nutrition transition.

Nutritional status of food consumption patterns of young children living in Western Uganda

The aim of this pilot study was to compare the nutritional status and food consumption patterns of children under five years. Quantitative, exploratory, cross sectional study. Kabarole district, western Uganda. Kabarole district is a rural district with subsistence farming as the main income. Two hundred and five children between 12 and 72 months of age living in AIDS affected homes versus children living in non-AIDS affected homes were examined. Fifty-five percent of all children were stunted and 20.5% were underweight. There was no difference in the prevalence of malnutrition between children living in AIDS affected homes versus non-AIDS affected homes. Only children between 12-35 months suffered from a daily deficit in caloric intake. The older children consumed the basic recommended daily intake (RDI) for protein, fat, iron and vitamin A. Due to frequent disease episodes and limitations in the estimations of individual total energy expenditure, the results are likely underestimations of the children's true nutritional requirements. The type of foods given to children in AIDS affected homes and controls were quite similar. Young children in Kabarole district suffer from severe chronic malnutrition rates, but rates and feeding patterns are not different in AIDS affected versus non AIDS affected homes.

Choix et comportements alimentairesd'enfants québécois

Purpose: The relationships are explored between food choices of school-aged children and eating in the bedroom, while watching television, or in front of the computer.Methods: Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire that 534 subjects completed in class. Participants were ten- to 12-year-old children from Québec.Results: Significant positive correlations were found between the act of eating in the bedroom and eating in front of the television or the computer (p&lt;0.05). Significant positive correlations were also found between eating in the bedroom, or eating in front of the television or the computer, and the consumption of low-density food, foods high in sugar and fat, and foods low in fibre (p&lt;0.05). Data also revealed more negative food habits for boys than for girls (p&lt;0.05).Conclusions: Because of the prevalence of childhood obesity, these findings support the need to document children's food consumption patterns and gender differences.

Marketing Strategies Can Maximize Food and Nutrition Professionalsʼ Effectiveness With Children

The voice and skills of marketing can be used to help or hinder sound eating habits in children. The authors of this article explore how marketing can be used effectively to modify children's food consumption patterns to introduce more healthful foods into their diets. Research shows that attitudes and behaviors of this generation of children have changed, particularly in how they access and use information. Marketing food to children has both positive and negative consequences on food consumption, behavior, and health. Instead of being part of the problem, families and school nutrition programs can be part of the solution by using and evaluating marketing efforts to influence eating behaviors. Finally, the authors present strategy implications for food and nutrition professionals using or addressing issues involving marketing to children.

The benefits of authoritative feeding style: caregiver feeding styles and children's food consumption patterns

This research tested the associations between caregiver feeding styles and children's food consumption patterns among African–American (AA) and Hispanic (H) caregivers and their preschool children. Participants were 231 caregivers (101 AA; 130 H) with children enrolled in Head Start. Caregivers completed questionnaires on authoritarian and authoritative feeding styles (Caregiver's Feeding Styles Questionnaire; CFSQ) and various aspects of children's food consumption patterns (availability of, feeding attempts for, and child's consumption of dairy, fruit, and vegetables). Simultaneous multiple regression analyses tested the unique contribution of feeding styles in predicting food consumption patterns. Authoritative feeding was positively associated whereas authoritarian feeding was negatively associated with the availability of fruit and vegetables. Authoritative feeding was also positively associated with attempts to get the child to eat dairy, fruit, and vegetables, and reported child consumption of dairy and vegetables. Authoritarian feeding was negatively associated with child's vegetable consumption. All results remained significant after controlling for child's gender and body mass index (BMI), and caregiver's ethnicity, BMI, and level of education. Overall, results provide evidence for the benefits of authoritative feeding and suggest that interventions to increase children's consumption of dairy, fruit, and vegetables should be targeted toward increasing caregivers' authoritative feeding behaviors.

Children’s food consumption patterns have changed over two decades (1973–1994): the Bogalusa heart study

Objective To evaluate types of foods and amounts consumed by 10-year-old children during the period from 1973 to 1994. Design One 24-hour dietary recall was collected on each child who participated in one of seven separate cross-sectional surveys of 10-year-olds. Subjects/Setting Dietary intake data was collected on 1,584 10-year-old children (65% Euro American, 35% African American), in Bogalusa, LA, from 1973 to 1994 using SAS 8.0 (1999, SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC). Statistical analyses performed Data were analyzed to calculate descriptive statistics. Pearson’s χ 2 test was used for testing equality of percentage of each food group consumed across the seven surveys. Cochran-Armitage trend test and general linear models were used to test for trends, adjusting for total energy intake, ethnicity, and sex. Results The percentage of children consuming, and the mean gram amount consumed, significantly decreased for fats/oils ( P<.0001), desserts ( P<.0001), candy ( P<.0001), eggs ( P<.001), and milk ( P<.0001). In contrast, the percentage of children consuming, and the mean gram amount consumed, significantly increased for fruits/fruit juices ( P<.01), mixed meats ( P<.01), poultry ( P<.0001), and cheese ( P<.0001). Despite a significant decrease in the percentage of children consuming vegetables ( P<.01) and beef ( P<.01), the mean gram amount consumed did not change. The percentage of children consuming breads/grains, pork, and snacks did not change, but the mean gram amount of salty snacks ( P<.001) significantly increased and the amount of breads/grains ( P<.01) and pork ( P<.01) significantly decreased. The percentage of children consuming sweetened beverages ( P<.01) and condiments ( P<.001) decreased while the mean gram amount consumed increased ( P<.05) and ( P<.0001). The mean gram amount of lunch and dinner consumed increased ( P<.0001) but snacks decreased ( P<.0001), resulting in no change in total gram amount consumed in a 24-hour period. Conclusions Trends in food consumption patterns of children should be considered in the design and implementation of population-based behavior strategies for the promotion of health and prevention of chronic diseases beginning in childhood.

Dietary Preferences and Pattern in Children with Sickle Cell Disease in Enugu Metropolis

The looks of children with sickle cell anaemia give an impression of malnourishment. Not growing optimally, they have lower weight, height and muscle bulk in the upper limbs than age and sex matched controls. Their underlying state imposes an increased metabolic demand on them. Yet there is simultaneous inadequate nutritional intake and malabsorption in periods of crises. Evidence of depressed appetite also exists. Parents try to combat this through administration of blood tonics. As a first step in assessing the nutritional status of children with sickle cell disease it was decided to conduct a detailed dietary interview. The food intake of children with sickle cell disease attending the sickle cell clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu was analyzed and compared with that of age matched controls that do not have sickle cell disease. Only differences which P-value was or 0.05 below were accepted as statistically significant. In the age stratum 4 years and under, generally no significant differences were noted in the food consumption pattern of children with sickle cell disease when compared with age-matched controls. However, children with sickle cell disease consumed significantly more spinach than controls. In the age stratum 5-16 years, children with sickle cell disease consumed more of the food items considered. Foods were sourced from mainly the market for all children and when not consumed, it was for similar reasons, mainly expensiveness and child=s dislike. Night blindness seems to occur more in children with sickle cell disease. It is concluded that parents no do not purposely bias quantity or quality of food presentation to children with sickle cell disease despite noticing that relative to their other children, these children looked always ill-fed. The value of taking the specific nutritional needs of these children into considerations in food presentation was discussed. In addition, it is suggested that more attention be paid to nutrition and that nutritionist be involved in the health care and management of these children. Key Words: Sickle Cell Disease; Dietary Preferences; Haemoglobinopathy in Enugu Orient Journal of Medicine Vol.15(1&2) 2003: 49-57

Relationships Between Use of Television During Meals and Children's Food Consumption Patterns

We examined relationships between the presence of television during meals and children's food consumption patterns to test whether children's overall food consumption patterns, including foods not normally advertised, vary systematically with the extent to which television is part of normal mealtime routines. Ninety-one parent-child pairs from suburbs adjacent to Washington, DC, recruited via advertisements and word of mouth, participated. Children were in the fourth, fifth, or sixth grades. Socioeconomic data and information on television use were collected during survey interviews. Three nonconsecutive 24-hour dietary recalls, conducted with each child, were used to construct nutrient and food intake outcome variables. Independent sample t tests were used to compare mean food and nutrient intakes of children from families in which the television was usually on during 2 or more meals (n = 41) to those of children from families in which the television was either never on or only on during one meal (n = 50). Multiple linear regression models, controlling for socioeconomic factors and other covariates, were used to test strength of associations between television and children's consumption of food groups and nutrients. Children from families with high television use derived, on average, 6% more of their total daily energy intake from meats; 5% more from pizza, salty snacks, and soda; and nearly 5% less of their energy intake from fruits, vegetables, and juices than did children from families with low television use. Associations between television and children's consumption of food groups remained statistically significant in multiple linear regression models that controlled for socioeconomic factors and other covariates. Children from high television families derived less of their total energy from carbohydrate and consumed twice as much caffeine as children from low television families. There continued to be a significant association between television and children's consumption of caffeine when these relationships were tested in multiple linear regression models. The dietary patterns of children from families in which television viewing is a normal part of meal routines may include fewer fruits and vegetables and more pizzas, snack foods, and sodas than the dietary patterns of children from families in which television viewing and eating are separate activities.