Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We determined diet quality trends among nationally representative samples of preschoolers between 1977 and 1998.
METHODS: Adjusted diet quality index scores, overall intake, and tertiles of total score were compared for combined samples and 2 age groups using t tests with Bonferroni correction; surveys used were the US Department of Agriculture's National Food Consumption Survey 1977-1979 (n = 2342), Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals (CSFII) 1989-1991 (n = 858), and CSFII 1994-1996 and 1998 (n = 5355).
RESULTS: Total scores increased slightly. Consumption of grains, fruits, and vegetables improved while added sugar and juice intake worsened.
CONCLUSIONS: Diet quality improved marginally since 1977. Consumption of fruits and vegetables needs to be increased and that of total and saturated fat, juice, and added sugar decreased.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1525-30 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | American Journal of Public Health |
| Volume | 94 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| Publication status | Published - Sep 2004 |
Keywords
- Child Nutrition Sciences
- Child, Preschool
- Diet
- Diet Surveys
- Female
- Food Habits
- Food Preferences
- Health Education
- Health Promotion
- Health Status Indicators
- Humans
- Male
- Socioeconomic Factors
- Time Factors
- United States