FOOD GROUP INTAKE PATTERNS IN RELATION TO NUTRITIONAL ADEQUACY OF YOUNG-ADULTS

Food group intake patterns of young adults were determined in relation to Food Guide Pyramid food groups, and were related to nutritional ad equacy and selected Dietary Guidelines for Americans. One-day food int ake records of 2489 subjects were analyzed for average intake of diffe rent food groups; % of diets below or above the recommended servings o f Food Guide Pyramid; nutritional density and MAR-5 in relation to foo d group scores (0-5) and food group intake patterns; the number of dif ferent foods included in a day; and percentages of kcalories from tota l fat and added sugar. Although mean intakes of major nutrients and fi ve food groups of the subjects were above the recommended amount, at l east 89% of the young adults consumed less than the recommended number of servings from more than one food group (i.e., food group score 0-4 ). Inadequate servings of grain, vegetable, fruit, dairy and meat grou ps were consumed by 39%, 31%, 38%, 40% and 55% of the subjects, respec tively. Diets which were chosen by the young adults and contained the minimum number of servings of the Pyramid were nutritionally adequate based on MAR-5 scores, but high in fat, sugar and kcal. In using the F ood Guide Pyramid for nutrition education with young adults, we sugges t emphasizing the importance of Dietary Guidelines for total fat, adde d sugar, and energy balance.