PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Snacks”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 973 records · Page 54Linked to original sources

Health status, health behaviors, and acculturation factors associated with overweight and obesity in Latinos from a community and agricultural labor camp survey.

BACKGROUND: U.S. Latino adults have experienced an 80% increase in obesity in the last decade. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 18-64-year-old Latino women (N = 380) and men (N = 335) from a community sample, and men (N = 186) from an agricultural labor camp sample in Monterey County, California, provided data on correlates of obesity. RESULTS: In the community and labor camp samples, prevalences of chronic disease risk factors (high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes) were 1.5-7 times higher in the heaviest compared with the leanest weight groups. Higher acculturation (generational status, years lived in the United States) was the strongest correlate of obesity (measured by BMI) in the community sample (P < 0.001), followed by less exercise and poorer diet (P values < 0.05). Women who exercised <2.5 h/week, watched TV regularly, ate chips/fried snacks, and ate no fruit the previous day were 45 lbs heavier than women with healthier habits. Men who did not exercise, rarely trimmed fat from meat, and ate fried foods the previous day were 16 lbs heavier than men with healthier habits. Discussions with health care providers about diet/exercise were associated with more accurate weight perception and more weight loss attempts in obese participants in both samples. CONCLUSIONS: The associations of acculturation, exercise, and diet to BMI implicate societal as well as individual contributors to obesity among U.S. Latinos.

Acculturation↗

Influencing healthful food choices in school and home environments: results from the TEENS study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this research is to examine the effects of an intervention designed to increase the availability of fruits, vegetables and lower fat foods in homes and schools. This research is part of the TEENS study, a school-based intervention study. METHODS: Sixteen schools in Minnesota were recruited to be in the study, and approximately 3600 middle school students in the eight intervention schools were exposed to a multi-component intervention. The TEENS intervention included classroom-based curricula, family newsletters, and changes in the school food environment including increasing more healthful options on a la carte and on the school lunch line. In addition to student-level outcomes, changes in availability of fruits, vegetables, and lower fat snacks in home and school environments were evaluated. The TEENS study was conducted from 1997 to 2000. RESULTS: Parents of students in intervention schools reported making healthier choices when grocery shopping as compared to parents of students in control schools (P = 0.01). No intervention effects were evident from a home food inventory. Compared to control schools, intervention schools offered (P = 0.04) and sold (P = 0.07) a higher proportion of healthier foods on a la carte, but no effects were seen for fruit and vegetables sales as part of the regular meal pattern lunch. CONCLUSION: Our results show mixed results for positively influencing adolescents' school and home environments.

Choice Behavior↗

A qualitative study of participants' experiences with dietary assessment.

OBJECTIVE: This article reports on the use of focus groups and an experimental participatory activity to investigate factors influencing participants' decisions about what to eat and what to report on food records and food frequency questionnaires. DESIGN: Four focus groups examined participants' experience with diet records and 3 focus groups explored the topic of food portions using a group consensus activity. Twenty-two women participated in the diet record focus groups, and 15 participated in portion estimation groups. SUBJECTS: Focus group participants were equally distributed by age and body mass index values. Each woman completed a 10-day doubly labeled water protocol to measure total energy expenditure, 7 days of diet records (before and during total energy expenditure), and a food frequency questionnaire after the total energy expenditure. ANALYSIS: Transcripts of the focus groups were coded to index categories of responses and to identify themes within and across those responses. Themes discussed in this article are those that were discussed most often and at greatest length by all groups. RESULTS: The diet record focus groups revealed that 2 major factors influenced reporting on diet records: honesty vs social acceptability, and simplifying food intake. The portion estimation focus groups revealed 5 factors that influenced perceptions of portion size: the role of food in the meal, the type of food, personal preferences, product serving sizes, and comparison of personal servings with those of others. APPLICATIONS: The validity and reliability of self-reported food consumption is greatly influenced by the ways people interpret and respond to dietary assessment instruments. These findings indicate that dietetics professionals need to take extra steps to address issues of accurately recording "bad" foods when training patients to complete diet records. Extra probing is needed when dietary records do not include snacks and include simple meals and a large amount of prepared and packaged food because this may indicate that changes in normal dietary patterns were made in order to more easily complete a dietary record.

Adult↗

Validation for MEDFICTS, a dietary assessment instrument for evaluating adherence to total and saturated fat recommendations of the National Cholesterol Education Program Step 1 and Step 2 diets.

MEDFICTS is a dietary assessment instrument designed to evaluate patient adherence to the National Cholesterol Education Program Step 1 and Step 2 diets. It provides a quick way to record food intake, portion size, and frequency of intake while focusing on foods that are the primary contributors of total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol in the average American diet (i.e., Meats, Eggs, Dairy, Fried foods, fat In baked goods, Convenience foods, fats added at the Table and Snacks). MEDFICTS was validated in a pilot study using 16 computer-analyzed sets of 4-day food records randomly selected from 7-day food records collected in the Diet Modification Clinic at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex). MEDFICTS correctly identified the 11 patients consuming a Step 1 diet, the 2 patients consuming the Step 2 diet and the 3 patients consuming an average American diet. Pearson correlation coefficients between MEDFICTS and the 4-day records were significant for percent energy from total fat (r = 0.81, P < .0002), saturated fat (r = 0.79, P < .0003), and cholesterol (r = 0.52, P < .039). Pearson correlation coefficients from 2 follow-up validation studies (3-day diet records [n = 22] through the Mary Imogene Bassett Research Institute, Cooperstown, NY, and a second study at the Diet Modification Clinic [n = 26]) also correlated significantly with percent energy from total fat (r = 0.56, P < .006; r = 0.71, P < .0001), saturated fat (r = 0.60, P < .003; r = 0.71, P < .0001), and approached significance for cholesterol intake (r = 0.54, P < .009; r = 0.39, P < .051) respectively. MEDFICTS is a quick, efficient tool that can be used in cardiovascular health screening, clinical practice, or research for the assessment of adherence to Step 1 or 2 diets. It can be self administered, and when reviewed with a dietitian, can provide an opportunity for nutrition education.

Diet Records↗

Acculturation of Mexican-American mothers influences child feeding strategies.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of maternal acculturation level on child feeding strategies and anthropometry in preschoolers from low-income Mexican-American families. DESIGN/SUBJECTS: Data are from a cross-sectional survey of 238 low-income Mexican-American families with preschool children living in California during 1998. Interviewers collected data from the mothers on child-feeding practices and weighed and measured the children in their homes. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Spearman's correlation coefficients, analysis of variance, and chi 2 were used to examine the relationship pf maternal acculturation level with feeding strategies and anthropometric measurements. RESULTS: Compared with more acculturated mothers, less acculturated mothers tend to offer alternative foods more often when their children refuse to eat. More acculturated women are less likely to view bribes, threats, and punishments as effective strategies and are more likely to give vitamins than less acculturated mothers. Maternal acculturation is not associated with differences in weight-for-height z-scores, height-for-age, or body mass index of the children. Triceps skinfold thickness are larger in children of more acculturated mothers than in children of less acculturated women. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Dietitians should consider differences in child feeding practices due to acculturation among Mexican-Americans. Successful strategies to encourage consumption of nutritious traditional foods and to transition from child-led snacking to more structured meals should be part of nutrition education programs.

Acculturation↗

Bakery foods are the major dietary source of trans-fatty acids among pregnant women with diets providing 30 percent energy from fat.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate intake and identify major dietary sources of trans-fatty acids consumed by healthy, pregnant women. DESIGN: Cross-sectional prospective study using a food intake questionnaire designed specifically to estimate trans-fatty acid intakes calculated from a trans-fatty acid food database developed by food analysis. SUBJECTS/SETTING: Healthy, pregnant women (n=60) were recruited in Vancouver, BC, Canada. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 9.0, descriptive statistics were applied to all variables and paired t tests were used to determine differences in intakes between second and third trimester of pregnancy. RESULTS: The mean fat intakes (in g/person/day) for the second and third trimesters, respectively, were: 85.8 and 73.9 total fat, 31.5 and 26.4 monounsaturated, 29.7 and 26.3 saturated, 13.6 and 12.2 polyunsaturated, and 3.8 and 3.4 trans. Fat represented 28% of dietary energy in both trimesters. The major sources of trans-fatty acids were bakery foods (33% of trans-fatty acid intake), fast foods (12%), breads (10%), snacks (10%), and margarines/shortenings (8%). APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Women following diets providing about 30% energy from fat consumed about 90% of trans-fatty acids as invisible fat, with less than 10% from table spreads. Dietitians should educate pregnant clients about hidden sources of trans-fatty acids and emphasize the importance of dietary fat composition.

Adult↗

Cardiovascular risk reduction and dietary compliance with a home-delivered diet and lifestyle modification program.

Lack of adherence to diet contributes to ineffective dietary responsiveness and elevated cardiovascular risk factors in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. Our purpose was to determine if home-delivered, heart-healthy meals and snacks, combined with telephone diet education, would be efficacious in improving dietary compliance, quality of life, and cardiovascular risk factors (primarily low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol and body weight) in CHD patients. Participants were 35 free-living subjects (21 men, 14 postmenopausal women) with a mean age of 62 (ranging from 40 to 79 years) in an 8-week diet intervention. A registered dietitian provided diet education over the telephone and weekly menus averaging 67% carbohydrate, 16% protein, 17% fat, 4% saturated fat, 5% monounsaturated fat, 128 mg cholesterol, and 25 g fiber. Lipid profiles, anthropometric measures, food records, and quality of diet, and life questionnaires were obtained at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Mean compliance-defined as percentage of prepared food energy consumed divided by percentage of prepared food energy provided-was 91% at 4 weeks and 88% at 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, significant reductions in weight (-3.7 kg), waist circumference (-2.0 in), hip circumference (-1.3 in), body mass index (-1.21 kg/m2), total cholesterol (-0.17 mmol/dL, -7.0 mg/dL), and LDL cholesterol (-0.19 mmol/dL, -7.5 mg/dL) (P<.05) were achieved without significant changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.00 mmol/dL, 0.0 mg/dL) or triglycerides (+0.06 mmol/dL, +2.5 mg/dL). Significant improvements in quality of life and quality of diet (P < .05) were also demonstrated. This program could be a useful additive component to traditional medical nutrition therapy to improve dietary adherence.

Adult↗

Children's dietary fat intake and fat practices vary by meal and day.

OBJECTIVE: This research examined the relationship between the dietary fat intake and fat practices of children by meal, day of week, and weekend day vs weekday. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS/SETTING: Fourth- to sixth-grade students (n = 520; 25% African-American, 32% white, 33% Mexican-American, 10% Asian/other, 58% girls) attending 8 parochial schools in Houston, Texas. MAIN MEASURES: Students completed daily food records in the classroom for 7 days. Food records were hand-coded for high-fat (eg, frying foods, adding fat) and low-fat (eg, removing meat fat, drinking low-fat milk) practices, and percent energy from fat. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation coefficients, and analysis of variance on fat intake and fat practices by demographic variables and weekend vs weekday. RESULTS: Students consumed 36% of total energy from fat, reported 0.59 low-fat practices, and 6.3 high-fat practices per day. Only 13% consumed 30% or less energy from fat. Significant correlations were found between percent energy from fat and high-fat practices and low-fat practices (r = 0.27, P < .001 and r = -0.15, P < .01, respectively). APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Intervention programs targeting children's dietary fat behaviors should include teaching skills that enable children to ask for low-fat foods like fruit, vegetables, low-fat snacks and dairy foods. These foods should be made available in the home to encourage children to practice low-fat dietary behaviors, which may differ depending on meal, day, and meal source.

Child↗

Did fat intake in the United States really decline between 1989-1991 and 1994-1996?

The objectives of this study were to determine changes in fat and energy intakes in the United States between 1989-1991 and 1994-1996, and to examine the implications of expressing fat intake in grams vs as a percent of total energy intake. The source of data was the Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals. The results suggest that intake of energy rose between the 2 time periods, primarily due to higher carbohydrate intake. There was also a modest increase in fat intake. However fat intake, as a percent of total energy, declined. The higher energy intakes were primarily from beverages, especially soft drinks, food mixtures, grain snacks, and pastries. The primary sources of higher fat intakes were meat mixtures, vegetables, and some categories of the grain group. Similar trends in the Food Supply Series suggested that the changes observed were not entirely due to changes in survey methodology. Because the increase in fat intake was masked by the increase in energy intake, we conclude that assessing trends in fat intake as a percent of energy consumption can be misleading, unless information on total energy and fat intake, in grams, is also provided. These preliminary findings should be interpreted cautiously until they are confirmed by formal secular trend analyses.

Adolescent↗

Couch potatoes or french fries: are sedentary behaviors associated with body mass index, physical activity, and dietary behaviors among adolescents?

OBJECTIVE: To describe the demographic characteristics of adolescent boys and girls who engage in three sedentary behaviors (television/video use, computer use, and reading/homework), and to explore how each sedentary activity is associated with body mass index (BMI), dietary behaviors, and leisure time physical activity. DESIGN: This study draws on data collected from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens), a school-based survey examining personal, behavioral, and socioenvironmental factors that are associated with nutritional intake among adolescents. SUBJECTS: The study sample consists of 4746 middle and high school students from 31 public schools in a metropolitan area of the upper Midwest. All students were invited to participate. The overall response rate for Project EAT was 81.5%. Data collection was completed during the 1998-1999 school year. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Multivariate linear regression was used for examining associations between independent and dependent variables, controlling for age, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. All differences were considered statistically significant at P<.05. RESULTS: Among boys, television/video use and time spent reading/doing homework were positively associated with BMI (P<.05), whereas for girls television/video and computer use were positively associated with BMI (P<.05). High television/video use among boys and girls was associated with more unhealthful dietary behaviors (eg, increased consumption of soft drinks, fried foods, and snacks) (P<.05). In contrast, time spent reading/doing homework was associated with more healthful dietary behaviors (eg, increased consumption of fruits and vegetables) (P<.05). Leisure time physical activity was not associated with television/video use among boys or girls, but was positively associated with computer use and time spent reading/doing homework (P<.05). Applications/Conclusions Messages and advice aimed at reducing time spent in sedentary activities should be targeted at television/video use instead of time spent reading, doing homework, or using a computer. Nutrition education should incorporate messages about the influence of the media and advertising on dietary behaviors.

Adolescent↗

Survey of dental nutrition knowledge of WIC nutritionists and public health dental hygienists.

OBJECTIVE: To assess two groups' knowledge of the role of diet in the etiology of dental caries: nutritionists in the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and public health dental hygienists. DESIGN: A self-administered survey contained questions about the cause of dental caries, the importance of caries-preventive measures, dietary factors linked to dental caries, dietary advice for patients with active dental caries, and diet-related topics discussed with clients. SUBJECTS: Surveys were sent to all WIC nutritionists and public health dental hygienists in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Of the 235 surveys mailed, 188 completed surveys composed the final sample. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Descriptive tests, means and frequencies, and the chi 2 test were used to measure differences in nutritionists' and hygienists' responses. RESULTS: One half of the nutritionists and three fourths of the hygienists recognized that dental caries was caused by a bacterial infection. Most dental researchers consider fluoride exposure and dental sealants to be highly effective caries-preventive measures; in contrast, WIC nutritionists and dental hygienists identified oral hygiene as being most important in preventing caries. Frequency of snacking and retentiveness of food in the mouth were accurately rated important dietary factors in the development of dental caries by both groups. However, limiting intake of fermentable carbohydrates between meals was not considered the most important dietary advice for clients. APPLICATIONS: Results suggest that current research about the role of diet in the prevention of dental caries should be included in both nutrition and dental hygiene curriculums and continuing education courses for these professionals.

Adolescent↗

Dietary change and obesity associated with glucose intolerance in Alaska Natives.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate frequency of food intake, body weight, and glucose intolerance in Alaska Natives. DESIGN: Height, weight, and random blood glucose levels were measured and a frequency-of-food-intake questionnaire was obtained. This questionnaire classified persons as consumers of indigenous foods or nonindigenous foods within three food groups. Those with a random blood glucose measurement > or = 6.72 mmol/L received an oral glucose tolerance test. SETTING: Community screening in 15 villages in Alaska. SUBJECTS: Nutrition screenings were done for 1,124 Alaska Native residents aged 20 years or older. An oral glucose tolerance test was done for 202 subjects. OUTCOMES MEASURED: Subjects were classified as consumers of indigenous or nonindigenous foods within three food groups. A diagnosis of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) was made on the basis of World Health Organization criteria. A determination of overweight was made on the basis of National Center for Health Statistics criteria. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: A chi 2 test with Yates correction, t test, and linear regression, with two-sided P values. RESULTS: Athabascan Indians had twice the rate of NIDDM as Yup'ik Eskimos with significantly higher frequency of nonindigenous food intake, plus lower frequency of indigenous carbohydrate and fat intake. Subjects < or = 30 years old consumed significantly more nonindigenous protein and fat and low-nutrient-density carbohydrates than those > or = 60 years old. Persons who had glucose intolerance reported significantly greater consumption of nonindigenous protein and less seal oil. Incidence of overweight was significantly higher than was found 25 years ago. Participants with glucose intolerance were significantly more overweight than others. CONCLUSION: A pattern of increased frequency of nonindigenous protein, low-nutrient-density carbohydrate, and fat intake with less indigenous carbohydrate and fat consumption was found in subjects < or = 30 years old and in association with the higher rate of NIDDM found in the Athabascan Indians. Persons with glucose intolerance were significantly more overweight than others. APPLICATIONS: Although the nutritional value of indigenous foods for reducing disease risk should be promoted, nutrition education, especially among young adults, should also include building skills to select and prepare nonindigenous foods to attain a healthful diet. Although snacking is a concern, dietary fat was the most significant factor in obesity and NIDDM.

Adult↗

Empower children to develop healthful eating habits.

Controlling a child's eating habits is counterproductive. By allowing children to make decisions about what and how much to eat, parents empower children to self-regulate their eating. The parent's role is to offer a variety of healthful foods, oversee the planning and assembly of meals, and set the schedule for meals and snacks. The child's responsibility is to decide what, how much, and even whether to eat.

Child↗

Assessment of energy intake underreporting by doubly labeled water and observations on reported nutrient intakes in children.

OBJECTIVE: To compare reported energy intake with energy expenditure using doubly labeled water (DLW). Additionally, we compared reported nutrient intakes of our subject population with national survey population data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study of children, balanced by race and gender, primarily characterized by 4 body types: lean, obese, centrally fat, or peripherally fat. SUBJECTS/SETTING: Children (n=118; mean age=10 years) kept 8-day food records, with nutritionists recording weekday school lunch intakes. These subjects, assisted by their parents, recorded all breakfasts, dinners, snacks, and weekend lunches. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Data were analyzed using least squares analysis of variance with the general linear models procedure. Tukey's test was used for multiple comparisons of predicted treatment means. RESULTS: Mean daily energy intake was underreported by 17% to 33% of energy expenditure. The tendency to underreport increased with age. Underreporting occurred in all groups and subgroups studied. Reported mean intakes of vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B-6, calcium, zinc, and copper were less than 70% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for African-American girls, whereas African-American boys reported similarly low intakes of copper. On average, white girls reported intakes less than 70% of the RDA for zinc and copper, whereas white boys reported low intakes of copper (60% of the RDA). Reported intakes in general were somewhat lower than those reported in NHANES III. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Dietetics professionals may modify the nutritional advice they give to patients/subjects based on food intake records and other data. For children, particularly, it is imperative that ethnic and gender differences be taken into consideration and that all foods eaten be accounted for as much as possible.

Black or African American↗

The Plate Model: a visual method of teaching meal planning. DAIS Project Group. Diabetes Atherosclerosis Intervention Study.

Dietitians from Canada, Finland, France, and Sweden have explored methods of teaching meal planning to persons with diabetes and dyslipidemia in the Diabetes Atherosclerosis Intervention Study. The Plate Model, a method commonly used in Europe, is a simple alternative to the traditional exchange-based method for teaching meal planning. In this visual method, a dinner plate serves as a pie chart to show proportions of the plate that should be covered by various food groups. Portions of foods and appropriate food choices can be depicted for meals and snacks in assorted forms of the model. Methods of presenting the model range from professional photography to hand-drawn sketches and displays of food replicas. Benefits of the model for adult learners include enhancement of the connection between dietary theory and practice, promotion of memory retention and understanding through visual messages, and experience of a positive approach to nutrition counseling. Various cuisines and festive foods can be incorporated into the model. The Plate Model offers a meal planning approach that is simple and versatile. The effectiveness of the model and its applications to other populations need to be evaluated.

Adult↗

Impact of breakfast consumption on nutritional adequacy of the diets of young adults in Bogalusa, Louisiana: ethnic and gender contrasts.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of breakfast consumption patterns on the nutritional adequacy of diets of young adults and determine possible ethnic and gender differences. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional survey of young adults in Bogalusa, La. SUBJECTS: Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls were collected from October 1988 through October 1991 on 504 young adults (mean age=23 years, 58% women, 70% white). STATISTICS: Analysis of variance and logistic regression techniques were used to investigate the relationship of breakfast consumption, ethnicity, and gender on dietary adequacy. The P values are from an analysis of variance model that adjusted for gender and ethnicity. RESULTS: Thirty-seven percent of young adults skipped breakfast. Of those who ate breakfast, 75% ate at home, 10% ate a fast-food breakfast, and 15% reported other sources. Mean energy intake from breakfast was 485 kcal; men consumed more energy than women (P<.001), and blacks consumed more energy than whites (P<.01). The breakfast meal provided an average of 13% of energy from protein, 55% from carbohydrate, 14% from sucrose, 34% from fat, and 12% from saturated fat. Whites consumed a breakfast higher in carbohydrate and sucrose than blacks, who consumed a breakfast higher in fat and saturated fat. Variations in breakfast foods consumed explained the racial differences in the nutrient composition of the breakfast meal. Young adults who skipped breakfast had lower total daily intakes of energy (P<.0001), protein per 1,000 kcal (P<.05), and saturated fat per 1,000 kcal (P<.01) than those who consumed breakfast. For all vitamins and minerals studied, a higher percentage of young adults who skipped breakfast did not meet two thirds of the Recommended Dietary Allowance than those who consumed a breakfast. APPLICATIONS: Encouraging consumption of breakfast, along with selection of more healthful breakfast food choices or snacks that are culturally appropriate, may be important strategies for improving the nutritional quality of young adults' diets.

Adult↗

The effect of eating out on quality of diet in premenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the intake of women who report varying levels of frequency of consuming food at commercial facilities outside the home. DESIGN: A 1-week descriptive study of dietary intake in women. Subjects completed daily diet records that included information regarding the source of the food eaten at each meal or snack. The sample was divided on the basis of the number of meals each subject reported obtaining from a commercial establishment outside the home. Of the 129 subjects, 56% (n = 72) reported eating out 5 times or less during the week of recording (Low Eating Out group) and the remainder (n = 57) reported eating out between 6 and 13 times (High Eating Out group) SUBJECTS/SETTING: One hundred twenty-nine premenopausal women were recruited via community advertising for an investigation of health habits. This study was conducted in a midsouthern US city. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Results were analyzed using independent sample t tests and chi 2 tests. RESULTS: Mean intake was compared for the groups. The High Eating Out group was found to be consuming significantly more total energy (2,057 kcal vs 1,769 kcal; P = .002), fat (79.5 g vs 60.6 g; P < .001), and sodium (3,299 mg vs 2,903 mg; P = .043) and marginally more carbohydrate (261.5 g vs 234.6 g; P = .055) and protein (71.5 g vs 65.4 g; P = .066). Total fiber or calcium intake did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that women who report eating out a greater number of times per week report more total energy intake as well as higher fat and sodium intakes. However, the High Eating Out group did not consume significantly more fiber or calcium in the extra energy consumed.

Adult↗

Dietary intake at child-care centers and away: are parents and care providers working as partners or at cross-purposes?

OBJECTIVE: To examine how meals and snacks children consume before and after their time at a child-care facility complement the menu at the facility. DESIGN: Dietary intake of children at and away from the child-care center was compared with recommended standards for child nutrition. Registered dietitians observed foods consumed at the center during 3 consecutive days. Parents reported foods consumed away from the center during the same 3 days. SUBJECTS/SETTING: Six nonprofit child-care centers with strong menus (i.e., menus that come close to meeting dietary recommendations) and 6 with menus supplying less than 50% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance were selected for study. Five families at each center were invited to participate. Complete data sets were obtained for 51 children aged 3 to 6 years. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated to compare the children's dietary intake during center time and family time and over a full day with recommended standards. Energy and nutrient profiles and food frequencies were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Children consumed plenty of foods at the center and away from the following groups: meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs, nuts; milk, yogurt, cheese; and fruit, fruit juice. Most children failed to consume enough vegetables. Nearly all the children failed to consume enough bread, cereal, pasta, and rice, especially while at the center. The majority ate more than sparing amounts of fats, oils, and sweets, especially during family time. Average percentage of energy from fat was 33 +/- 4. Intakes of concern for the full day were energy, iron, sodium, and zinc. APPLICATIONS: Child-care menus are an appropriate target for increasing iron and zinc by serving more cereal and whole grains. Families are an appropriate target for reducing young children's consumption of fats, oils, and sweets. Nutrition education and advocacy are needed to strengthen the partnership between parents and caregivers.

Calcium, Dietary↗