Intakes of Snack Foods, Fruit, Vegetables, Energy and Macronutrients among Mother‐Child Dyads from Families with Limited Incomes

Americans consume more salty and sweet snacks (S) than fruit (F) and vegetables (V). The objectives of this study were to determine the association between intakes of S, F, V, total energy and macronutrients of mother‐child dyads and for mothers and children separately. This was a secondary analysis of 24‐hour dietary intake data on 650 mother‐child dyads from a cross‐sectional study with 52 Head Start (HS) centers in TX and AL. The sample was HS children (mean age=4.4 yr) and their mothers (42.5% B; 30.0% HA; 27.5% W). Associations were covariate adjusted. Positive correlations (p< 0.0001) were found in mother‐child intakes of S (r=0.35), F (r=0.36), V (r=0.48), total energy (r=0.48), protein (r=0.51), carbohydrate (r=0.43) and fat (r=0.47). For mothers or children, there was no association between intakes of S, F and V. Their intakes of S, F and V were positively correlated (p<0.0001) with total energy intake and all macronutrients. Correlated intakes of S, F, and V among mother‐child dyads were significant; consumption of S was not associated with intakes of F and V; intakes of these food groups were all positively associated with total energy intake. Interventions designed to increase F and V intake by HS children may need to target eating behaviors of the mother and provide strategies for preparing V without fat and replacing S with more F and V.