“Your Child Ate What?” Frequently Consumed Foods among Young Children in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific (USAP): The Children's Healthy Living (CHL) Program

Few systematic studies have assessed the dietary behaviors of young children in the USAP region Objectives: Examine the top 10 foods/beverages recorded among CHL jurisdictions, compare differences, and identify contextual information associated with these foods. Children, 2‐8 years, were recruited from communities in Alaska (AK), American Samoa (AS), Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and Hawaii (HI). Parents/caregivers completed a 2‐day Food Log that included place prepared, place eaten, and activity while eating. This initial report represents 1713 children. White rice was most frequently reported across the region, followed by 2% milk. White bread, 1% milk, apples (including apple juice), bananas and sugar‐sweetened tea were also frequently reported. Foods were most often reported being prepared and consumed at home. Children were engaged in sedentary activity (including screen/TV/tablet usage) during half (53%) of the eating occasions. The top 10 foods varied by USAP region, with the occurrence of brown rice in HI and AS; hotdogs and Spam in CNMI; whole milk in AS; raw carrots, salted butter and salted peanut butter in AK. Few local traditional foods were reported as “frequently” consumed. White rice was the most frequently reported food and sedentary activities as the most likely activity type to accompany eating. Supported by: USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Coordinated Agricultural Program Grant no 2011‐68001‐30335