What kids eat for fruits and veg

[Guest guest]

Kids aren't eating enough fruits and vegetables, and when they do consume

produce, they are more likely to eat french fries than nutrient-rich dark

green or orange vegetables, a study shows.

That won't surprise parents who have been trying to tempt their kids with

better diets for years.

Researchers at Ohio State University analyzed government data on 6,500

children and teens, ages 2-18, and found that the children were consuming an

average of 2 cups of fruits, vegetables and juice a day. Teens ate only

slightly more than that.

The government nutritional guidelines base recommended produce intake on

total calories consumed. The range is 2 to 6½ cups of fruits and vegetables

each day, based on an intake of 1,000 to 3,200 calories a day. Someone

consuming 2,000 calories a day should eat 2 cups of fruit and 2½ cups of

vegetables a day.

Other findings reported in the March Journal of the American Dietetic

Association:

• French fries are the most common type of vegetable children eat. Fries

account for about one-quarter of children's vegetable intake.

• Juice makes up about 40% of kids' fruit intake.

• Fruit and vegetable consumption is greater in families with higher

incomes. Earlier research has shown that this is because fresh produce can

be expensive, and there often aren't stores that sell it in low-income

neighborhoods.

If french fries and fruit juice had not been included in the survey data,

then children would be eating far fewer fruits and vegetables than they

should, says Hugo Melgar-Quinonez, an assistant professor in the department

of human nutrition at Ohio State.

Parents have to get their children to go greener by eating more deep-green

leafy vegetables, he says. His advice: Always include vegetables and fruits

in children's meals, even if it means putting baby carrots and broccoli or a

sliced apple on the table with the meal: " Just a little effort makes a big

difference in kids' diets and therefore their health. "

Barbara Lorson, a registered dietitian at Ohio State, recommends offering

vegetables when the children are especially hungry, such as after school.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-03-01-vegetables-fries_N.htm

Journal article:

http://www.adajournal.org/article/S0002-8223(08)02185-8/abstract

JADA Volume 109 <http://www.adajournal.org/issues?Vol=109>, Issue

3<http://www.adajournal.org/issues/contents?issue_key=S0002-8223%2809%29X0002-7>\

,

Pages 474-478 (March 2009)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the quality of the current intakes

of fruits and vegetables compared to the *Dietary Guidelines for

Americans*in US children and adolescents and identify factors related

to low fruit and

vegetable intake. This descriptive study examined differences in fruit and

vegetable intakes by age, sex, ethnicity, poverty level, body mass index,

and food security status utilizing data from the 1999-2002 National Health

and Nutrition Examination Survey. Six thousand five hundred thirteen

children and adolescents ages 2 to 18 years, who were respondents to the

1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Mean fruit and

vegetable intakes were computed using 24-hour recalls for individuals and

compared using analysis of variance. Leading contributors to fruit and

vegetable intake were identified using frequency analysis. Children aged 2

to 5 years had significantly higher total fruit and juice intakes than 6- to

11- and 12- to 18-year-olds. Total vegetable and french fry intake was

significantly higher among 12- to 18-year-old adolescents. Regarding sex

differences, boys consumed significantly more fruit juice and french fries

than girls. In addition, non-Hispanic African-American children and

adolescents consumed significantly more dark-green vegetables and fewer mean

deep-yellow vegetables than Mexican-American and non-Hispanic white children

and adolescents. Total fruit consumption also differed significantly among

race/ethnicities and household income. Children and adolescents most at risk

for higher intakes of energy-dense fruits and vegetables (fruit juice and

french fries) were generally boys, and adolescents, at risk for overweight

or overweight and living in households below 350% of the poverty level.

--

Ortiz, MS RD

" Nutrition is a Science,

Not an Opinion Survey "

MARCH: National Nutrition Month