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Food insecurity and food patterns in Mexican‐heritage children
Author(s) -
Aguilera Albert,
Kaiser Lucia
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.1054.9
Subject(s) - food insecurity , food security , environmental health , food frequency questionnaire , food consumption , population , consumption (sociology) , medicine , obesity , geography , agriculture , demography , agricultural economics , social science , archaeology , sociology , economics
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between food insecurity and food patterns among Mexican‐heritage children, ages 2–8 yrs., in Fresno County, California. The community‐based sample was recruited from a predominantly agricultural worker population in a small Central Valley town as part of a five‐year childhood obesity prevention study (Niños Sanos, Familia Sana, Healthy Children, Healthy Family). Only baseline data from the first year are reported here. Using a 30‐item food frequency questionnaire, bilingual researchers interviewed parents (n=61) about their child's diet and feeding practices during the past month (between July to Oct. 2012). Food security data during the previous 3 months were collected using the 18‐item Food Security Survey. Over the summer months, prevalence of low food security and very low food security was 41% and 13%, respectively. Among the children, the most frequently consumed foods (% of parents reporting consumption ≥ 1 time/day) included fresh fruit (76%); low‐fat milk (70%); corn tortillas (48.6%); and instant cereal (31%). Among less nutrient dense foods, frequency of consumption (% ≥ 1 time/day) was 12.5% for soda; 20.5% for fruit drinks; 16% for cookies; and 8% for chips. Even during the summer months when many parents are employed, food insecurity is relatively high. Funded by Niños Sanos, Familia Sana USDA‐NIFA Grant # 82705.