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Characterizing sandwich consumption patterns among children age 2–19 years, What We Eat in America. NHANES 2009–2012
Author(s) -
Hoy Katherine,
Goldman Joseph D.,
Sebastian Rhonda S.,
Enns Cecilia Wilkinson,
Moshfegh Alanna J.
Publication year - 2016
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.30.1_supplement.677.7
Subject(s) - french fries , medicine , consumption (sociology) , respondent , environmental health , snack food , demography , food science , social science , chemistry , sociology , political science , law
Sandwich consumption is commonplace in the American diet. Previous research has shown that almost one‐half of adults eat a sandwich on a given day, yet little is known about children's sandwich consumption. The purpose of this study is to describe sandwich intake among children by eating occasion (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack) and location of eating (at home versus away from home) and to determine which other food/beverage categories were commonly consumed along with a sandwich. One day of dietary intake data for children age 2–19 years (n=6,412) in What We Eat in America (WWEIA), NHANES 2009–2012 was analyzed. Determination of sandwich reporting status was based on whether the individual reported any items that were coded either as single‐code sandwiches or as components of a sandwich combination. Eating occasion names were designated by the respondent. The WWEIA food categories were used to describe items consumed at eating occasions that contained sandwiches (sandwich occasions). Overall, sandwiches were reported by 48% of children: 7% reported eating a sandwich at breakfast, 30% at lunch, 17% at dinner, and 6% at snack occasions. Whereas 53% of all sandwiches reported by children were consumed at home, 59% of lunch sandwiches were consumed away from home. Vegetables were eaten at 25% of sandwich occasions with French fries accounting for 2 out of every 3 vegetable reports. Fruit was included at 18% of sandwich meals, and savory snacks were included at 15%. Beverage categories frequently consumed by children at sandwich occasions included sweetened beverages (29%), plain water (15%), plain milk (13%), flavored milk (9%), and 100% juice (9%). At 12% of children's sandwich occasions, the sandwich was consumed alone, without any other foods or beverages. These results can inform nutrition education and policy initiatives directed at promoting healthful food choices by children.