MyPlate Recommendations Research Articles

Evaluating the Association of the Increase in the WIC Cash Value Benefit on the Diversity of MyPlate Fruits and Vegetables Redeemed and Consumed By Children in Low-Income Households

BackgroundFruits and vegetables (FV) are a critical source of nutrients, yet children in the United States are not meeting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The monthly FV cash value benefit (CVB) included in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)’s food package to support child FV intake (FVI) received a substantial increase for economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. ObjectivesTo evaluate how an expansion of the monthly WIC CVB to purchase FV for WIC children ages 1–4 y is associated with diversity in FV redeemed, and how changes in redeemed FV are related to FVI. MethodsCaregivers representing 1463 WIC-participating children recruited from Los Angeles County, California, completed surveys during the CVB augmentation (T1: CVB = $9/mo; T2 = $35/mo; T3 = $24/mo). Redeemed price look-up codes (PLUs), corresponding to a food item, were assigned to its corresponding MyPlate FV group. Multivariable generalized estimating equation regression models assessed changes in amount and diversity of FV redemption across MyPlate groups and associations between changes in FV diversity and changes in FVI. ResultsSlightly over half of all households were food insecure (55%), half of the children were female (52%), and most were Hispanic (78%). Compared with T1, significant increases in the number of PLUs and dollars redeemed were observed in most MyPlate FV groups. From T1 to T2, significant increases in diversity scores were observed for total fruit (β: 1.6 pts; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4, 1.7), total vegetable (β: 3.6 pts; 95%CI: 3.4, 3.9), and total FV (β:7.8 pts; 95%CI: 7.4, 8.2). Similarly, increases in diversity score were observed at T3 compared with T1. Changes in FV diversity redeemed were not associated with changes in FVI. ConclusionsDuring the CVB augmentation, WIC participants redeemed a greater amount and variety of FV according to DGA MyPlate recommendations, supporting its permanent increase.

MyPlate Awareness and Engagement and Perceived and Objective Diet Quality in US Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease

Awareness of federal dietary guidelines has been associated with better perceived and objective diet quality. Little is known about the awareness of federal dietary recommendations among persons with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the associations between recognition of guidelines, perception of diet quality, and objective quality of the diet in this population. We compared awareness of, and engagement with, MyPlate (a representation of 5 food groups from the US Department of Agriculture) along with perceived and objective diet quality, the latter assessed via Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension index scores, among US adults with and without CKD during 2017-2020. Among noninstitutionalized adults in the United States, 8.3% had albuminuria with normal or near-normal kidney function, 4.0% had estimated glomerular filtration rate 45-59mL/minute/1.73m2 (CKD stage G3a) and 1.6% had estimated glomerular filtration rate <45mL/minute/1.73m2 (CKD stages G3b/G4/G5). MyPlate awareness was lower among persons with CKD compared with those without CKD (19.6% vs. 26.4%, P<.001) and was lower among persons with more advanced CKD stages: 20.8%, 18.2%, and 16.3% in persons with CKD stages G1/G2, G3a, and G3b/G4/G5, respectively (trend P<.001). Among persons aware of MyPlate, a numerically higher proportion with CKD attempted to follow MyPlate recommendations (43.9% vs. 32.3%, P=.10); the proportion was highest among persons with moderate-to-advanced CKD (41.9%, 42.9%, and 56.9% among persons with CKD stages G1/G2, G3a, and G3b/G4/G5, respectively (trend P<.001)). Perceived and objective dietary quality (the latter based on concordance with the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet) were slightly higher among persons with CKD relative to those without CKD. Adults with CKD have lower MyPlate awareness than adults without CKD. Enhancing diet education to persons with CKD could improve diet quality and potentially ameliorate CKD-associated complications.

Effects of informational nudges on preordered food choices of middle school National School Lunch Program participants

AbstractWe examine the effects of own order history, peer order history, and MyPlate nudges received by middle‐school National School Lunch Program (NSLP) participants while preordering on the selection of fruits and vegetables. Students receiving own order history nudges were significantly less likely to select a vegetable during the postintervention phase. Students who received peer order history nudges were significantly less likely to select a vegetable during the nudging and postintervention phases, suggesting that receiving information on peer selection negatively impacted the selection of vegetables. The MyPlate recommendations nudge may mitigate the negative effects of receiving peer selection information.

The Effect of Nutrition Education Using MyPlate on Lipid Profiles, Glycemic Indices, and Inflammatory Markers in Diabetic Patients.

As a result of a nutrition transition, chronic diseases, including diabetes, have increased in Iran. Nutrition education is a cost-effective method for modifying diet and controlling diabetes. This study aimed to examine the effect of nutrition education using MyPlate recommendations on glycemic and lipid profiles and inflammatory markers in Iranian adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. A 12-week randomized clinical trial was conducted on 44 adults aged 30–50 years from Ahvaz, Iran. The participants were divided into education and control groups. The education participants were taught the MyPlate recommendations. Serum levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), lipid profiles, and inflammatory markers, including high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α, and adiponectin, were measured at the baseline and the end of the study. The results showed that serum levels of FBS (p = 0.014) and HbA1c (p < 0.001) decreased significantly in the education group at the end of the study. The serum level of low-density lipoprotein in the education group declined significantly at the end of the study (p = 0.043). Furthermore, the serum level of hs-CRP (p = 0.005) declined significantly while the level of adiponectin (p = 0.035) increased in the education group at the end of the study. The evidence of this study showed that nutrition education using MyPlate recommendations is an effective method for controlling diabetes complications. A longitudinal analysis with a larger sample size is recommended to confirm the evidence of this study.Trial RegistrationIranian Registry of Clinical Trials Identifier: IRCT2015031921443N2

P93 Precision Behavioral Nutrition: Development of the NutriPCP Inference Engine for Data-driven Diet Goals in Primary Care

<h3>Objective</h3> To develop a computational system that uses dietary recall data to prioritize behavioral goals to facilitate efficient, personalized collaborative goal-setting in primary care. <h3>Use of Theory or Research</h3> The Chronic Care Model posits that synergy between the healthcare system and patient self-management will improve chronic disease outcomes. Thus, improving how diet is addressed in primary care could augment the benefit of dietary self-management. Collaborative goal-setting with primary care providers (PCPs) can facilitate patient behavior change. However, PCPs lack time and training to set effective diet goals with patients. NutriPCP aims to address this gap by presenting PCPs with a set of evidence-based goals prioritized using patient data. <h3>Target Audience</h3> PCPs <h3>Program Description</h3> NutriPCP uses ASA24 diet recall data to compute patient status for each of 9 previously developed, MyPlate-based goals (eg, "Make half my grains whole"). NutriPCP's inference engine consists of Python rule statements that synthesize a patient's data and compare it to evidence-based targets for nutrient consumption personalized for patient characteristics (eg, kcal intake/sex/age). PCPs are then presented with a list of the patient's status for each goal prioritized by degree of improvement needed. <h3>Evaluation Methods</h3> We tested our inference engine with test data (n = 12), and our team of nutrition, technology, and clinical experts validated the output. We used NHANES data to establish reasonable population-wide estimates. <h3>Results</h3> Testing revealed challenges for goal prioritization because datasets reflected consumption far from evidence-based targets. Therefore, we created standardized ranges to improve variability for relative ranking across goals. For goals with upper and lower limits (eg, "Reduce portion size") we added warnings for inadequate intake. <h3>Conclusion</h3> We demonstrated that computational rules can automatically process recall data into prioritized behavioral goals. To our knowledge, this is the first system that personalizes MyPlate recommendations based on an individual's data. This has implications for nutrition education in primary care. Future research will examine implementation feasibility for PCPs and patients.

Defining A Healthy Diet: Challenges and Conundrums

As researchers and practitioners, we are often asked the question ‘what makes up a healthy diet.’ The purpose of this commentary was to bring light to this issue, and help define important behaviors that lead to consuming a healthy diet. A brief background of dietary recommendations is provided, including recommendations for macronutrients and micronutrients, as well as foods and food groups. After reading this commentary, it should be clear that whereas the concept of a healthy diet can be vague and abstract, there are key recommendations that help discern healthy and unhealthy eating. Also, even though the term healthy diet may be too vague for scientific investigation, social and behavioral scientists can predict and change behaviors related to a healthy diet, including those related to Dietary Reference Intakes [e.g., “Consuming between 900 and 3000 micrograms of Vitamin A everyday of the week” (for an adult man)] and MyPlate recommendations (e.g., “Consuming at least 4 oz (or equivalent) of whole grains, every day of the week”). Guidance on defining appropriate behaviors for scientific investigation and practice is presented.

Abstract C041: US Latina immigrants: Is obesity the face of food insecurity?

Abstract Obesity is a predictor of many chronic illnesses and certain obesity-related cancers. Latinos are a rapidly growing population in the US with high levels of food insecurity, and higher obesity rates. Food insecurity refers to a lack of access to nutritious and safe food. The “food insecurity-obesity” is a paradoxical relationship seen in rising obesity and correspondingly high food-insecurity rates. This paradox differentially affects individuals in the US based on gender, income, and race/ethnicity. Research to reduce these health disparities, particularly among Central American Latina adults, is sparse. To address this research gap, we examined demographic factors among Latina immigrants to understand this paradox. Methods: This analysis is part of a larger study that aimed to assess the health needs, lifestyle behaviors, and other risk factors linked to chronic diseases among Latino immigrants in Maryland. Food insecurity was measured using four validated measures (“hungry but no money for food”; “cannot afford to eat balanced meals”; “worried food would run out before having money to buy more”; “worried about money for food”) and body mass index (BMI) was calculated from measured height and weight. Participants were categorized as overweight (BMI 25-30 kg/m2) or obese (BMI &amp;gt;30 kg/m2). Chi-square tests were used to assess bivariate associations between selected characteristics, food insecurity and BMI, and post-HOC tests conducted (Bonferroni correction). Results: Participants (N=123) were mostly female (87%), obese (67%), and Central American natives (78%) and average age of 51 years. About a third reported being hungry but not having money for food (29%), 50% reported not being able to afford to eat balanced meals, 52% worried about having enough money for food, and 53% worried food would run out before having money to buy more. We observed varied demographic differences: less than a HS diploma was associated with “hungry but no money for food” (p=0.02); those who reported “cannot afford to eat balanced meals” were more likely to have high school diploma (p=0.02), have lived less time in US (p=0.01), were of lower income (p=0.03) and were single (p=0.05); and “worried food would run out before having money to buy more” was associated with time lived in the US. Analysis regarding BMI and food-insecurity items showed participants who reported “worried about money for food” were more likely to be obese (p=0.04). Conclusion: In this cohort of Latina immigrants, there are multiple demographic factors, such as education level, time lived in the US, income, and marital status that were associated with higher food insecurity and BMI. Further analysis will be conducted using a dietary screening tool called PrimeScreen. This tool is used to identify major food group consumption and compliance with USDA MyPlate recommendations. A better understanding of the “food insecurity-obesity” paradox and related factors will inform future culturally tailored interventions to address obesity among Latina immigrants. Citation Format: Maria A. Amador, Mary A. Garza, Evelyn King-Marshall, Meleah Boyle, Leyla Merlo, Robert Feldman, Lesliam Quiros-Alcala. US Latina immigrants: Is obesity the face of food insecurity? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr C041.

Dietary Determinants of Metabolic Syndrome Parameters Differ by Gender in College Students.

MyPlate is a guidance system for healthier eating choices. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the influence of MyPlate food group consumption and exercise on metabolic syndrome (MetS) parameters in college students. Participant (n = 462) blood was analyzed using Cholestech for triglycerides (TG), glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). In addition, weight, waist circumference (WC), and blood pressure (BP) were measured. Diet and Wellness Plus was used to compute participant diet records. Regression analysis and a recursive decision tree were made to predict MetS using RStudio (V.1.1.463). BP decision tree predicted high risk of elevated blood pressure with a recall rate of 93.7%. For males; exercise, empty calories, dairy, and protein were main predictors. For females, vegetable and empty calorie consumption were primary determinants. HDL-C decision tree had a recall rate of 91.8% and showed that the main low HDL-C risk determinants for males were; exercise and grain consumption. Conversely, for females; empty calories, grain, and vegetable consumption were the key factors determining low HDL-C risk. This study shows that MyPlate recommendations are valuable to achieve adequate HDL-C and blood pressure and provides insight into the importance of tailoring food intake guidance based on gender.

Self-regulation Capacity Of Low-income Mothers In Community-based Nutrition Program

Diet is strongly associated with many risk factors for chronic disease. Educational programs such as the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) are designed to improve dietary behaviors among low-income populations. Although EFNEP has seen improvements, they do not yet meet recommendations. Self-regulation is the process of guiding thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to stay in line with perceived goals. Previous studies have been successful in eliciting behavior change when improving self-regulation in conjunction with dietary education. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine self-regulation in EFNEP participants and its relationship to participants change in dietary behavior. METHODS: All participants were currently enrolled in EFNEP and were asked to complete an additional self-regulation survey. This survey included five questions on a Likert scale from 1-5, with 5 indicating high self-regulation. These were averaged to assess overall self-regulation capacity pre- and post-program. Fruit and vegetable intake were measured using EFNEPs current diet-recall survey. RESULTS: On average, the participants had low levels of self-regulation both pre- and post-intervention (2.74 ± 0.71 and 2.59 ± 0.78, respectively). Regarding vegetable intake, there was no statistically significant change from pre- to post-program (1.51 ± 1.36 and 1.42 ± 1.32 cups, respectively). However, there was a statistically significant different regarding fruit intake, increasing from 0.86 ± 0.94 to 1.39 ± 1.39 cups per day. Neither fruit nor vegetables increased to MyPlate recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Participants self-regulation capacity was on average low, and did not increased from pre- to post-program. Results also indicate that fruit and vegetable intake did not reach MyPlate recommendations. From these results, we can conclude that self-regulation training may be a necessary supplement to the program to see improvements in the participants dietary behavior.

Prevalence of Major Behavioral Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes.

We examined the proportion of American adults without type 2 diabetes that engages in lifestyle behaviors known to reduce type 2 diabetes risk. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 3,679 nonpregnant, nonlactating individuals aged ≥20 years without diabetes (self-reported diagnosis or glycated hemoglobin ≥6.5% [8 mmol/mol] or fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL) and who provided 2 days of reliable dietary data in the 2007-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). We used the average of 2 days of dietary recall and self-reported leisure-time physical activity to assess whether participants met type 2 diabetes risk reduction goals (meeting four or more MyPlate recommendations [adequate consumption of fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains, meat, beans, and eggs]; not exceeding three maximum allowances for alcoholic beverages, added sugars, fat, and cholesterol; and meeting physical activity recommendations [≥150 min/week]). Approximately 21%, 29%, and 13% of individuals met fruit, vegetable, and dairy goals, respectively. Half (51.6%) met the goal for total grains, compared with 18% for whole grains, and 54.2% met the meat/beans goal and 40.6% met the oils goal. About one-third (37.8%) met the physical activity goal, and 58.6% met the weight loss/maintenance goal. Overall, 3.1% (95% CI 2.4-4.0) of individuals met the majority of type 2 diabetes risk reduction goals. Younger age and lower educational attainment were associated with lower probability of meeting goals. A small proportion of U.S. adults engages in risk reduction behaviors. Research and interventions targeted at young and less-educated segments of the population may help close gaps in risk reduction behaviors.

Greening the Thrifty Food Plan - How Adding a Sustainability Constraint Effects Price, Availability and Composition

The USDA Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) specifies types and amounts of foods for a minimal cost, nutritionally adequate diet and provides the basis for maximum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The TFP meets several constraints, including: cost, energy, nutrient and MyPlate recommendations. The objective was to assess cost impact on the TFP of a sustainability constraint. Using existing sustainable dietary guidelines and organic certification and seasonality as proxies, we developed food lists reflecting the TFP. Food stores representing a range of retail for formats were selected: supercenters, full-service supermarkets, independent grocers, and discount grocery stores. Food price data were collected and recorded at three time points in five different retail food stores in one metropolitan low-income area of Central New York State (CNY). Food price differences were determined between standard TFP and sustainability adjusted TFP. Additional price comparisons were made with local, seasonal produce options available at a regional market. Organic options generated an average price premium of 47% and availability of 33%. Local, seasonal produce options had an average adjusted price discount of 7% based on average yearly availability. The premium/discount will be applied to the TFP. Effects these adjustments have on price and composition in relation to the TFP and reported consumption will be described. Initial adjustments of consumption resulted in 10% TFP monthly cost increase. These preliminary results suggest that the net effect of sustainable constraints is a premium TFP monthly cost, and organic option availability and variety may be limited in stores.

Inulin‐Type Fructans Fiber Supplementation Improves Weight Loss When Used with the USDA's MyPlate Recommendations for Weight Management in Obese Women Attempting to Lose Weight

The objective was to determine the impact of using weight loss recommendations in free living obese women interested in weight loss, with and without inulin‐type fructans (ITF) fiber over a six‐week period.MethodsThe study was a simple randomized intervention study with twelve women age (22.6 ± 3.6 y), and BMI ≥30 kg/m2. Participants were randomly assigned to either weight management recommendation (WMR) only group (n=6), or WMR+ITF group (n=6). The guided recommendations were a printed guide containing recommendations on how to lose weight based on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPlate recommendations. The WMR+ITF group received a six‐week supply of ITF along with the printed guide, while the WMR‐only group received only the guide. Each participant receiving the supplement was instructed to consume one small bag containing 7 g of ITF three times a day before meals. Weight, height and BMI were all measured. In addition, 24 h dietary recall was collected in the beginning (pre‐intervention) and at the end of the six‐week study (post‐intervention).ResultsThere were no differences in age, initial weight or BMI between both groups at baseline. Post‐intervention, the WMR+ITF group lost significant weight compared to its pre‐intervention weight (89.2 ± 10.2 vs 87.4 ± 9.9, p&lt;0.05), while the WMR only group did not see a significant change (91.5 ± 12.5 vs 90.9 ± 12.3, p&gt;0.05). Using a 24‐hour recall, the energy intake at pre‐intervention was not statistically different between both groups. Post‐intervention, the WMR+ITF group consumed significantly less energy compared to its pre‐intervention energy intake from 1947 ± 129 to 1742 ± 109, p&lt;0.05, this difference was not see in the WMR only group.ConclusionSupplementation with ITF appears to enhance the weight loss achieved with the use of MyPlate recommendations over a short period in obese women attempting to lose weight as evident by greater weight loss in the supplemented group. Decreased energy consumption is likely to explain the weight loss in the supplemented group.Support or Funding Information**This work was supported and funded by Kuwait University, Research Project No. (WF02/15).

80/20 Diet Efficacy in Regard to Physiology and Psychosocial Factors

Considering the scope of diets available, research studying the efficacy of these diets is necessary. An increasingly popular form of dieting known as “flexible dieting,” and the most recent dietary guidelines released in 2010, USDA MyPlate, are two dietary plans with insufficient amount of efficacy research via randomized-controlled trials. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to assess the 80/20 diet, a specific form of flexible dieting, and USDA MyPlate in hopes of adding more empirical data to these areas of nutritional studies. This mixed-methods study recruited 29 participants and measured changes in physiological and emotional elements, across a threemonth timeframe. Seventeen participants were randomly assigned to the control (followed MyPlate guidelines 100% of meals), and 12 to the 80/20 group (followed MyPlate recommendations in an 80/20 fashion). Preliminary analysis revealed the control group experienced an approximate 58.8% drop-out rate (n=10), compared with the 80/20 group drop-out rate of 16.67% (n=2). Mixed-model ANOVA analysis of the remaining 17 subjects’ data showed no significant relationship between intervention and changes in physiological or emotional factors for both groups. MyPlate adherence analysis showed similar results among both groups (average control adherence: 19.75 days; average 80/20 adherence: 20.64 days). The post-study questionnaire revealed that “MyPlate issues” was the number one cited aspect that participants struggled with most during the study. These results may indicate that an 80/20 diet is a reasonable dietary plan for the general public due to its flexibility; however MyPlate guidelines are difficult to abide by. This difficulty may have contributed to the low adherence rates for both groups, and consequentially, an insignificant relationship between intervention and changes in physiology and psychosocial factors.

Blog-based Nutrition Education for College Students

College students consume less fruits and vegetables than MyPlate recommendations in the diet. Young adults need to develop healthy behaviors early to avoid chronic disease incidences. This study aimed to assess the impact of a blog-based nutrition education on six food groups (whole grain, fruit, vegetable, protein, dairy, oil) and omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids (FA) consumption in college students. A total of 86 students who registered in Spring 2012 at a southern university in the United States were participated. A 6-week education was studied, which one group received MyPlate information plus n-3 FA information, whereas the other group received MyPlate information only. There were significant differences on fruit, vegetable, and protein group consumption between the two groups, but no difference on n-3 FA consumption. There was significant difference in self-efficacy to include n-3 FA at meals among the two groups. This education might improve some food group consumption, but not on n-3 FA consumption in college students.

Dietary and economic effects of eliminating shortfall in fruit intake on nutrient intakes and diet cost.

BackgroundChildren in the United States do not consume the recommended amounts of fruit. The economic and dietary consequences of meeting the shortfall in fruit consumption have not been evaluated.MethodsAnalyses were based on a nationally representative sample of 4–18 year-old children (n = 2,647) from the 2009–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The shortfall in total fruit consumption for each child was estimated based on the USDA MyPlate recommendations. The potential impact of filling the shortfall in total fruit consumption was projected with whole fruit alone (WF model) or a combination of 100 % fruit juice and whole fruit (FJ + WF model). Juice consumption was capped using American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) standards. The USDA national food prices database was used to estimate the cost of meeting the dietary recommendations for fruit. Selected nutrient and mineral intakes, as well as daily diet cost were estimated after eliminating the shortfall in fruit consumption.ResultsAmong all children, vitamin C (+22.8 mg [95 % CI 21.4, 24.1] in the WF model and +48.1 mg [95 % CI 45.2, 51.1] in the FJ + WF model) and potassium intakes (+203 mg [95 % CI 190, 215] in WF and +263 mg [95 % CI 248, 280] in FJ + WF) were increased in both models. The FJ + WF model resulted in a marginal increase in dietary fiber (e.g., a relative change less than 10 %), while the WF model resulted in a meaningful increase in dietary fiber (e.g., a relative change greater than 10 %; +2.2 g [95 % CI 2.1, 2.3]). Conversely, the WF model resulted in only a marginal increase in calcium, while the FJ + WF model resulted in a meaningful increase in calcium (+85 mg [95 % CI 79, 89]). Calories were increased in all models (+4.5 % [95 % CI 4.1, 4.9 %] for FJ + WF and +3.5 % [95 % CI 3.2, 3.7 %] for WF). Meeting the fruit shortfall with whole fruit alone increased estimated diet costs by 9.9 % (+$0.44/d [95 % CI 0.42, 0.47]), while the fruit juice/whole fruit combination increased diet costs by 5.2 % (+$0.23/d [95 % CI 0.22, 0.25]).ConclusionsMeeting fruit consumption guidelines without a substantial increase in diet costs may be a challenge. Combining whole fruit with 100 % fruit juice capped at AAP standards may be one approach to meeting fruit recommendations within cost constraints. Identifying approaches to increasing whole fruit consumption in as cost-neutral a fashion as possible should be a priority.

The Era of the Functional Consumer

ABSTRACTA discrete choice experiment was conducted to analyze consumer preferences for fruit and vegetable attributes in the context of the 2010 MyPlate Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations and to consider the role of health benefits and potential tradeoffs among fruit and vegetable quantity and quality attributes. Higher willingness to pay for fruit and vegetable attributes by the medium-high income respondents compared to low-income respondents may reflect the reality of a greater ability to pay. The magnitude of WTP toward satisfying MyPlate recommendations is substantially below the cost; therefore, it is not surprising that current consumption levels are well below the recommendation. Organic products had a stigmatizing effect for low-income respondents.

The effects of pre-ordering and behavioral nudges on National School Lunch Program participants’ food item selection

This paper examines the effects of pre-ordering and pre-ordering with behavioral nudges on the selection of fruits, vegetables, and low-fat milk by National School Lunch Program (NSLP) participants in a Florida school. After collecting two weeks of baseline data, students in grades four and five were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: the first treatment group pre-ordered their lunches online using a unique software program; the second treatment group received behavioral nudges based on United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPlate recommendations while pre-ordering. Student in grades four and seven served as the control group and continued to obtain their lunches through the normal lunch line. Using difference-in-difference regression analysis, we find that students in the first treatment group selected significantly more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat milk during the pre-ordering intervention phase of the study relative to students in the control group, 27.7%, 15.8%, and 16.3%, respectively, while students in the second treatment group selected significantly more fruits (51.4%), vegetables (29.7%) and low-fat milk (37.3%) than students in the control group. In addition, we find the nudge had a statistically significant positive effect in addition to the effect of pre-ordering; students who received the MyPlate nudge while pre-ordering selected statistically significantly more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat milk than students who pre-ordered without nudging.

The Diet of Inmates: An Analysis of a 28-Day Cycle Menu Used in a Large County Jail in the State of Georgia.

Given the many well-documented relationships between diet and health, growing medical care expenses for those incarcerated, and limited information on foods served in correctional facilities, this study examined the nutritional adequacy of a 28-day cycle menu used in a large county jail in Georgia. When compared with Dietary Reference Intakes, provisions of energy (female inmates only), sodium, saturated fat, and cholesterol exceeded recommendations. Magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A, D, and E met less than two thirds of recommendations. Compared with MyPlate recommendations, grains were overrepresented, while vegetables, fruits, and dairy were underrepresented in the menu. Small menu changes could improve the menu's nutrient content and potentially increase inmates' health and well-being.

Nutritional Practices of NCAA Division III Football Linemen

Football linemen have been shown to be at greater risk of chronic diseases (e.g. cardiovascular disease) later in life compared to other position players. Linemen encounter pressure to maintain high body mass, which may influence dietary choices. Previous research on this topic has largely focused on professional or Division I levels, with little study on Division III athletes. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dietary practices of NCAA Division III linemen. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 9 linemen (height=182.8±6.3cm, weight =113.9±10.2kg, years in college=2.7±1.4) completed a 3-day diet log. Diet logs were analyzed for macronutrient and micronutrient intake and compared to US Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) and MyPlate recommendations for a male with the average weight, height, and age of the subjects. Separate 1-sample t-tests for each category were used (alpha=0.05). RESULTS: Average intake of nutrients and food groups with comparisons to recommendations are shown in Table 1. CONCLUSION: Excess consumption of total fats, saturated fats, and sodium and a low intake of essential fats and fiber may put NCAA Division III linemen at a higher risk of chronic disease and should be considered when providing nutrition counseling.Table 1: Average Nutrient and Food Group Intake of Linemen Compared to DRI and MyPlate Recommendations.Significantly different than recommendations (* <0.05; ♯ <0.001); SD = standard deviation; DRI = Dietary Reference Intake; MUFA = monounsaturated fatty acids; PUFA = polyunsaturated fatty acids

Whole-Grain Intake in Middle School Students Achieves Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate Recommendations when Provided as Commercially Available Foods: A Randomized Trial

In accordance with the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, at least half of total grain intake should be whole grains. Adolescents are currently not consuming the recommended daily intake of whole grains. Research is needed to determine whether whole grains are acceptable to adolescents and whether changing their food environment to include whole-grain foods will improve intake. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of providing refined-grain or whole-grain foods to adolescents, with encouragement to eat three different grain-based foods per day, on total grain and whole-grain intakes. Middle school students (n=83; aged 11 to 15 years) were randomly assigned to either refined-grain or whole-grain foods for 6 weeks. Participants and their families were provided with weekly grains (eg, bread, pasta, and cereals), and participants were provided grain snacks at school. Intake of grains in ounce equivalents (oz eq) was determined through eight baseline and intervention targeted 24-hour diet recalls. Participants consumed 1.1±1.3 oz eq (mean±standard deviation) of whole grains at baseline, out of 5.3±2.4 oz eq of total grains. During intervention, whole-grain intake increased in the whole-grain group (0.9±1.0 to 3.9±1.8 oz eq/day), whereas those in the refined-grain group reduced whole-grain intake (1.3±1.6 to 0.3±0.3 oz eq/day; P<0.002, group by time period interaction). Total grain intake achieved was 6.4±2.1 oz eq/day and did not differ across intervention groups. Providing adolescents with whole-grain foods in their school and home environments was an effective means of achieving recommendations.