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The effect of offering two high‐fiber snacks per day to a sample of school‐age children on their overall diet quality (624.21)
Author(s) -
Brauchla Mary,
Miller Kevin,
Baker Selena,
Kranz Sibylle
Publication year - 2014
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.28.1_supplement.624.21
Subject(s) - medicine , overweight , dietary fiber , obesity , environmental health , childhood obesity , food science , chemistry
Diet quality in American children is suboptimal, contributing to risk for overweight, obesity, and development of chronic disease. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of serving high‐fiber snacks twice a day on measures of diet quality in a sample of elementary school children. Participants (n=81) in a community‐based, prospective, random‐controlled, nutrition intervention were children 7‐11 years of age. Children were cluster‐randomized by classroom to receive two high‐fiber snacks per day or to consume their regular snack foods for 8 weeks. Study participants completed two 24‐hour diet recalls at baseline and at intervention week 4, from which the Revised Children’s Diet Quality Index (RC‐DQI) scores were calculated. Intake of fiber (p<0.05), whole grains (p<0.001) and iron (p<0.05) increased in the intervention group without increasing average caloric intake or displacing any critical food groups or nutrients, although total RC‐DQI scores did not increase significantly. High‐fiber snacks served at school can significantly improve dietary fiber intake without negatively affecting energy intake, thus contributing to better diet quality in school‐age children.