FOOD INTAKES OF US CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS COMPARED WITH RECOMMENDATIONS

Objectives. To determine the proportion of youth meeting national reco mmendations for food group intake and to identify food intake patterns . Design. The US Department of Agriculture's 1989-1991 Continuing Surv eys of Food Intakes by Individuals were used to estimate food intake. Intake was determined from 3 days of diet by disaggregating foods into their component ingredients and using weights that correspond to serv ings. Participants. The sample included 3307 youth, 2 to 19 years of a ge, living in the 48 conterminous United States. Main Outcome Measures . Mean number of servings and percentage of individuals meeting nation al recommendations for food group intake according to demographic char acteristics, patterns of intake, and nutrient profiles associated with each pattern. Results. Mean numbers of servings per day were below mi nimum recommendations for all food groups except the dairy group (ages 2 to 11). Percentages of youth meeting recommendations ranged from si milar to 30% for fruit, grain, meat, and dairy to 36% for vegetables. Sixteen percent of youth did not meet any recommendations, and 1% met all recommendations. The pattern of meeting all recommendations result ed in nutrient intakes above the recommended dietary allowances and wa s high in fat. Conversely, meeting none of the recommendations resulte d in intakes well below the recommended dietary allowances for some nu trients. Total fat and added sugars averaged 35% and 15% of energy, re spectively, and levels were similar among most demographic groups. Con clusion. Children and teens in the United States follow eating pattern s that do not meet national recommendations. Nutrition education and i ntervention are needed among US children.