Food consumption patterns of elementary schoolchildren in New York City

OBJECTIVE: To examine food consumption patterns and related characteristics of schoolchildren. DESIGN: A representative survey involving a household questionnaire and child interview to conduct a nonquantitative 24-hour dietary recall. Indexes were developed to score the diets based on the Food Guide Pyramid and 5 A Day for Better Health recommendations. SUBJECTS/SETTING :Six hundred ninety-three 2nd-grade students and 704 5th-grade students from public and private schools in New York City. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Weighted means and gender-adjusted analysis of covariance models were used to account for a complex survey design in calculating variance estimates. RESULTS: Compared with a maximum of 50, the mean Food Guide Pyramid index score was 29.2 for 2nd-grade students and 30.4 for 5th-grade students. The mean 5 A Day consumption score was 3.4 and 3.6 servings of fruits and vegetables daily for 2nd and 5th graders, respectively. Measures of food consumption were significantly related to socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, skipping meals, and participating in school lunch for both grades, and with meal preparation for 5th graders. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: The Food Guide Pyramid and 5 A Day recommendations provide guidelines for food selection beginning in childhood. Knowledge and skills training are needed to improve food consumption patterns as children consume foods away from home and as they take on greater responsibility for meal preparation and food selection.     

Seasonal and gender differences of beverage consumption in elementary school students

The purpose of this study was to compare the beverage consumption by gender and season in elementary school children and to investigate the role of beverage consumption patterns on their daily nutrient intakes and BMIs. Beverage consumption and dietary energy intake in 160 elementary school students in the Gyeongnam area were measured by a beverage frequency and quantity questionnaire and three 24-hour dietary recalls during winter and summer. The number of drinking moments per month, the amounts of beverage per day, and the energy from beverage consumption were not different between winter and summer. In summer, the contribution of energy from sweetened beverage to the daily energy intake in girls accounted for 13.5% which was significantly higher compared to 7.7% in boys. In girls, the consumption of health beverage showed a significant correlation with various nutrient intakes in winter. Meanwhile, the sweetened beverage intake was negatively correlated with energy, protein, vitamin A and niacin intake in summer. Consumption of most of the beverages, including sweetened beverages, were not related with BMI in both sexes and both seasons, except functional drinks which were related with BMI in boys in winter.     

Alcohol consumption and nutrient density of diets in the Nationwide Food Consumption Survey

Alcoholic beverage data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Nationwide Food Consumption Survey (NFCS), 1977-78, were compared with apparent consumption data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). NFCS data indicate that only one-fifth of the alcohol estimated to be consumed by DHHS is reported at the household level. For those individuals consuming alcoholic beverages, energy levels were higher than for non-drinkers. Average daily nutrient intake for most nutrients was similar for drinkers and non-drinkers. The nutrient density of diets of drinkers was significantly lower than that of non-drinkers with respect to protein, fat, carbohydrate, calcium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin A, and thiamin.     

Food consumption and height/weight status of Dutch preschool children on alternative diets

The effects of alternative dietary practices on nutrient intake and height/weight status were studied in three groups of Dutch preschool children: 33 vegetarians, 26 anthroposophics, and 33 macrobiotics. Fifty children on omnivorus diets composed the control group. The children fed vegetarian and anthroposophic diets were somewhat lighter and shorter than the children on omnivorous diets but were within normal limits. The children fed macrobiotic diets were significantly lighter and shorter. Results of the 5-day weighing record method used to measure food consumption were compared with the Dutch Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs), which recommend higher protein and lower iron for children than the RDAs for the U.S. The diets of the anthroposophically and vegetarian-fed children were most similar and conformed better to the Dutch RDAs than the diets of the omnivorously and macrobiotically fed children. The omnivorously fed children had intakes of iron and polyunsaturated fat below the Dutch RDAs and intakes of mono- and disaccharides and cholesterol above the Dutch RDAs. The intakes of calcium, riboflavin, and vitamin D recorded for the macrobiotically fed children were substantially below the Dutch RDAs. The vitamin D content of the diets of all four groups was low; however, most of the omnivorously fed children used vitamin D supplements, and the other three groups of children were sent out in the sun as much as possible. A high risk for rickets existed in the combination of periods of bad weather and a low intake of both calcium and vitamin D.     

Bacterial water quality in the personal water bottles of elementary students

BACKGROUND: Samples of drinking water were collected directly from the personal water bottles of students at an elementary school in Calgary, Alberta. METHODS: Total and fecal coliforms and heterotrophic bacteria were enumerated using membrane filtration and agar plate count methods respectively. RESULTS: The Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines (CWQG) criterion was exceeded for total coliform in 13.3% of 75 samples. Fecal coliform and total heterotrophic criteria were exceeded in 8.9% (of 68 samples) and 64.4% (of 76 samples) respectively. FINDINGS: The use of personal water bottles for students in elementary classrooms is not recommended.     

Food consumption and buying patterns of students from a Philippine university fastfood mall

A consumer survey was conducted in a university fastfood mall to determine the food consumption and buying patterns of Philippine university students. The survey established that a typical fastfood consumer in the test university foodmall is female between 16 and 22 years old, with a purchasing capability of < or = US$1.79 for a complete meal, and who generally frequents the mall only once a day during weekdays. Wholesomeness, affordability and variety of the foods were the general basis for satisfaction of the typical student consumer.     

Food consumption and buying patterns of students from a Philippine university fastfood mall

A consumer survey was conducted in a university fastfood mall to determine the food consumption and buying patterns of Philippine university students. The survey established that a typical fastfood consumer in the test university foodmall is female between 16 and 22 years old, with a purchasing capability of ≤ US$1.79 for a complete meal, and who generally frequents the mall only once a day during weekdays. Wholesomeness, affordability and variety of the foods were the general basis for satisfaction of the typical student consumer.     

Food security practice in Kansas schools and health care facilities

This pilot study investigated perceived importance and frequency of specific preventive measures, and food and nutrition professionals' and foodservice directors' willingness to develop a food defense management plan. A mail questionnaire was developed based on the US Department of Agriculture document, Biosecurity Checklist for School Foodservice Programs--Developing a Biosecurity Management Plan. The survey was sent to food and nutrition professionals and foodservice operators in 151 acute care hospitals, 181 long-term-care facilities, and 450 school foodservice operations. Chemical use and storage was perceived as the most important practice to protect an operation and was the practice implemented most frequently. Results of the study indicate training programs on food security are needed to increase food and nutrition professionals' motivation to implement preventive measures.     

Insufficient sleep among elementary and middle school students is linked with elevated soda consumption and other unhealthy dietary behaviors

ObjectiveThis study examines the extent to which insufficient sleep is associated with diet quality in students taking part in the Massachusetts Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Project.MethodsData were collected in Fall 2012 for all 4th and 7th grade children enrolled in public schools in two Massachusetts communities. During annual body mass index (BMI) screening, students completed a survey that assessed diet, physical activity, screen time, and sleep. Of the 2456 enrolled students, 1870 (76%) had complete survey data. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine associations between sleep duration and dietary outcomes (vegetables, fruits, 100% juice, juice drinks, soda, sugar-sweetened beverages and water), accounting for clustering by school. Models were adjusted for community, grade, race/ethnicity, gender, television in the bedroom, screen time, and physical activity.ResultsIn adjusted models, students who reported sleeping < 10 hours/day consumed soda more frequently (β = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.20) and vegetables less frequently (β = − 0.09, 95% CI: − 0.18, − 0.01) compared with students who reported ≥ 10 hours/day. No significant associations were observed between sleep duration and fruits, 100% juice, juice drinks or water.ConclusionsIn this population, insufficient sleep duration was associated with more frequent soda and less frequent vegetable consumption. Longitudinal research is needed to further examine these relationships.     

武汉市中小学生亲子沟通状况及其与生活质量的关系

目的 了解武汉市中小学生亲子沟通效果状况及生活质量,为探讨亲子沟通效果与生活质量的关系提供理论依据.方法 分层随机抽取武汉市850名中小学生及其父母,采用亲子沟通效果问卷、生活质量问卷进行调查.结果 母亲教育程度越高,亲子沟通效果更具优势,本科及以上学历的母亲在沟通效果上的得分显著高于小学学历的母亲(F=3.150,P＜0.05).父、母自我评价沟通效果差异无统计学意义,孩子评价母亲在沟通效果上的得分显著高于父亲,父、母对沟通效果自我评价显著高于孩子(t值分别为3.383,6.528,P值均＜0.01).不同学段学生亲子沟通效果差异有统计学意义,小学生亲子沟通效果的得分显著高于中学生(F值分别为22.85,16.51,P值均＜0.01).父、母的亲子沟通效果与父、母亲生活质量呈正相关(r值分别为0.422,0.221,P值均＜0.01).结论 父母教育程度、学段等因素影响亲子沟通效果；亲子沟通效果越好,父、母亲生活质量得分越高.     

Prevention of prejudice in elementary school students

This study investigated the effects of cooperative group peer tutoring on the inter-ethnic relations of elementary school age children. Direct observations of social interactions on the playground and sociometric indices were used to measure inter-ethnic associations before and after the eight-week program. For first graders, inter-ethnic interactions and sociometric choices increased and improvements were found in arithmetic and reading grades. However, no significant changes were found among the third grade program children in either inter-ethnic associations or academic performance. These findings suggest that a cooperative peer tutoring classroom structure may improve the inter-ethnic relationships of first grade children who have experienced only a short history of competitive academic exercises and whose overt ethnic prejudice may be less ingrained.Patricia Rooney-Rebeck is with the Community Mental Health Center of Linn County, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Leonard Jason is with DePaul University.     

Food fiber choices for diabetic diets

The use of dietary fiber (DF) in the diet of diabetics, although recommended, is often prevented by a limited tolerance and/or by the high cost and unpalatability of fiber supplements. Knowing that only or mainly the water soluble fraction of DF is effective in modulating postprandial hyperglycemia, the DF content (soluble, insoluble, and total) of a variety of common foodstuffs was determined. Such data were then utilized in the formulation of two complete meals, isocaloric and isoglucidic, characterized by a high-soluble, low-soluble, and total fiber content. The meals were administered to 13 NIDDM patients in good metabolic control. The data confirmed a significant reduction (p less than 0.001) of postprandial hyperglycemia and a moderate less significant reduction of insulinemia after the high fiber meal.     

Lifestyles and psychosomatic symptoms among elementary school students and junior high school students

Objectives  To examine the relationship between lifestyles and psychosomatic symptoms in children, we conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey of elementary school students and junior high school students in Japan. Methods  We designed an original questionnaire to investigate the lifestyles and psychosomatic symptoms of children. In 1997, responses to the questionnaires were elicited from public elementary school fourth grade students (then aged 9–10) and public junior high school seventh grade students (then aged 12–13). The survey was repeated annually for three years as the students advanced through school. Results  For both boys and girls, each cross-sectional analysis revealed a strong relationship between lifestyle behaviors and psychosomatic symptoms. Psychosomatic, symptoms scores varied according to daily hours of sleep, eating of breakfast, having strong likes and dislikes of food, bowel habits, and daily hours of television watching. Both boys and girls with “good” lifestyle, behaviors evaluated by the HPI (Health Practice Index) showed lower scores for psychosomatic symptoms. Conclusions  These findings show that the lifestyle behaviors of children are significantly associated with psychosomatic symptoms and suggest that poor lifestyle behaviors are likely to increase physical and psychological health risks.