3 SQUARES OR MOSTLY SNACKS - WHAT DO TEENS REALLY EAT - A SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC STUDY OF METAL PATTERNS

Purpose: To categorize U.S. adolescents' meal patterns and related dif ferences in dietary quality. Methods: Using data from the Continuing S urvey of Food Intake by Individuals, 1989-1991, meal patterns from 3 d ays of adolescents' (ages 11-18 years) intake (n = 1310) were examined . Consistency of meal pattern intake and associated nutrient quality w as determined. Logistic regression was used to examine the effects of several sociodemographic characteristics on meal pattern consistency.R esults: A higher percentage of adolescents consumed a meal pattern tha t included 3 meals/day than any other meal pattern: 57.4-58.7% on any given day. Forty-one percent of adolescents fell into the consistent ( at least two meals on all 3 days), and only 3.5% fell into the inconsi stent meal (one meal, with or without snacks, or snacks only, on all 3 days) pattern category. Logistic regression results indicated that be ing black [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.19, 95% confidence interval ( CI) (1.90, 9.27)], older (15-18) [AOR = 1.41, 95% CI (1.19, 1.67)], an d from a single-parent household [AOR = 2.60, 95% CI (1.23, 5.52)] wer e predictive of an inconsistent meal pattern. School lunch has a posit ive impact on intake, increasing a consistent meal pattern from 36.0% to 44.9%.Conclusions: Adolescents who consume at least two meals (with or without snacks) on a consistent basis have an adequate intake of c alories and a more nutrient-dense diet with respect to calcium, iron, vitamin E, and fiber than those with other meal patterns. From the per spective of following a diet to prevent chronic diseases in adulthood, adolescents regardless of meal pattern, consume a diet that is too hi gh in fat, sodium, and protein, and too low in fiber. (C) Society for Adolescent Medicine, 1998.