scholarly journals Added Sugars in School Meals and the Diets of School-Age Children

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 471
Author(s):  
Mary Kay Fox ◽  
Elizabeth C. Gearan ◽  
Colin Schwartz

Research is limited on added sugars in school meals and children’s dietary intakes after the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommended that added sugars be limited to less than 10% of total calories. This analysis uses data from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study (SNMCS) to examine levels of added sugars in: (1) school meals and (2) children’s dietary intakes at breakfast, lunch, and over 24 h on school days. SNMCS data were collected in the 2014–2015 school year after updated nutrition standards for school meals were implemented. Most schools exceeded the DGA limit for added sugars at breakfast (92%), while 69% exceeded the limit at lunch. The leading source of added sugars in school meals (both breakfasts and lunches) was flavored skim milk. More than 62% of children consumed breakfasts that exceeded the DGA limit, and almost half (47%) consumed lunches that exceeded the limit. Leading sources of added sugars in the breakfasts consumed by children were sweetened cold cereals and condiments and toppings; leading sources of added sugars in children’s lunches were flavored skim milk and cake. Over 24 h, 63% of children exceeded the DGA limit. These findings show that school meals and children’s dietary intakes are high in added sugars relative to the DGA limit and provide insights into the types of foods that should be targeted in order to decrease levels of added sugars.

EDIS ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna Norris ◽  
Karla P. Shelnutt ◽  
Gail P. Kauwell

If you have school-age children, you may have heard that the 2012 school year brought major changes to the meals children eat at school. All meals provided through the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs now must be consistent with the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This 6-page fact sheet was written by Jenna Norris, Karla P. Shelnutt, and Gail P. A. Kauwell, and published by the UF Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, October 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy1396


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 307
Author(s):  
Sarah Forrestal ◽  
Elizabeth Potamites ◽  
Joanne Guthrie ◽  
Nora Paxton

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 updated the nutrition standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs (NSLP and SBP) and expanded universal free meals’ availability in low-income schools. Past studies have shown that school meals are an important resource for children in food-insecure households. This analysis used data from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study to classify students as food insecure (FI), marginally secure (MS), or food secure (FS). Diet quality from school and nonschool foods that students consumed was assessed using Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2010 scores. Chi-squared and two-tailed t-tests were conducted to compare school meal participation, students’ energy intakes, and diet quality across food security groups. FI and MS students were significantly more likely to participate in NSLP than FS students (79%, 71%, and 49%, respectively). SBP participation followed a similar pattern but was lower (38% FI, 33% MS, and 16% FS). Compared to FS students, FI and MS students more likely attended schools offering SBP, universal free meals, or afterschool snacks and suppers. School meals contributed significantly more energy to FI and MS students’ diets than to FS students (22%, 20%, and 13%, respectively). All groups’ dietary intakes from school foods were of higher quality than non-school foods. These findings highlight the role of school meals in meeting the energy and diet quality needs of FI and MS students.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zeng ◽  
Lijing Shao ◽  
Yongjun Li ◽  
Mei Yang ◽  
Bing Xiang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Nutrition plays a crucial role in children’s growth and development, migrant children have their own characteristics in nutrition. The current study aims to assess the dietary status of migrant school-age children and underlying factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out on migrant children in 25 classes with the 3rd to 6th grades from two primary schools by cluster sampling. Children’s 3-day 24-hour diet were recorded, the dietary intake of calories and nutrients were calculated by using the China Food Composition for each day, and were presented the average intake of the 3 day period. The assessment of energy and nutrient intakes by estimated energy requirement (EER) and estimated average requirement (EAR), respectively. The Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents and Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes were used as evaluation standards to assess the dietary intakes and nutritional status of these children.Results: Participants included 752 migrant children aged 9-12y (430 boys and 322 girls). Deficiency proportions of energy and protein were 46.1% and 40.1% for boys, 44.4% and 65.1% for girls. Energy supply proportions of macronutrients (protein, fat, and carbohydrate) in boys were 12.4%、28.8%、58.8%, those of girls were 11.1%、28.6%、60.3%. The insufficiency proportions of vitamin A, B vitamins, calcium, zinc and selenium were considerably serious (>60%). In dietary pattern, intakes of cereal, poultry and edible oil were relatively adequate, but milk, fish, eggs and soybean products were seriously inadequate. Conclusions: Characteristics such as unreasonable dietary pattern, relative lack of energy and nutrients, and excess snack intake coexist, it is necessary to carry out nutrition intervention to help migrant children to balance the diet and rectify the deficiencies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Mirza Rizqi Zulkarnain

Hypercholesterolemia, the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood, is one of the major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). One of the key recommendation in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010, is to consume less than 300 mg of dietary cholesterol per day. The same amount is also adopted in Indonesia (BPOM, 2016) until today. However, in the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020, dietary cholesterol is no longer included in the list of specific foods that should be limited. The added sugars, sodium, saturated fats and trans fats remain on the list of food components that should be reduced. Generally, foods that are higher in dietary cholesterol are also higher in saturated fats. But there are also some foods that are higher in cholesterol but not in saturated fats. According to the latest recommendation, this kind of foods can be consumed without any specific restriction. In this review, some of clinical studies related to the association between dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol levels are selected. The findings from those studies will be summarized to consider whether the same recommendation should be implemented in other countries, especially in Indonesia.


Author(s):  
Heather C Hamner ◽  
Latetia V Moore

ABSTRACT Background The US Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide dietary recommendations for individuals aged ≥2 y and metrics exist to assess alignment. Nonfederal feeding recommendations exist for children <2 y, but limited metrics and assessment of dietary quality are available. Objective We aimed to assess dietary quality of children aged 6 mo–4 y using a modified Diet Quality Index Score (DQIS). Methods NHANES 2011–2016 dietary data were used to estimate the dietary quality of children 6 mo–4 y old using a modified DQIS. Differences in mean modified DQIS by demographics were assessed using linear regression. Results Mean modified DQIS ± SE was 22.4 ± 0.23 out of 45 possible points (50%) for children 6 mo–4 y of age on a given day. Modified DQIS scores on a given day decreased with age (27.7 ± 0.27 for 6- to 11-mo-olds, 23.9 ± 0.31 for 1-y-olds, 21.4 ± 0.26 for 2- to 3-y-olds, and 20.6 ± 0.49 for 4-y-olds; P < 0.0001 for trend). Children 6–11 mo old had 16% higher overall modified DQIS scores than 1-y-olds (P < 0.0001) and higher modified DQIS subcomponent scores for refined grains and protein, indicating higher age-appropriate intakes (P < 0.05). Similarly, children 6–11 mo old also had higher modified DQIS subcomponent scores, indicating no or limited intake, for 100% fruit juice, sugar-sweetened beverages, other added sugars, and salty snacks (P < 0.02). Conclusions Dietary quality declines with age and may begin as early as 1 y. The modified DQIS tool could help assess the dietary quality of young children. This may be important when identifying programmatic and policy efforts aimed at establishing and maintaining healthy dietary patterns beginning at an early age.


2019 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
pp. 646-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula R Trumbo

AbstractThe 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Advisory Committee has set recommendations to limit added sugars. This action was based on the association between dietary pattern quality scores and chronic disease risk, the results of meta-analyses conducted for the World Health Organization, and data from modeling of dietary patterns for establishing the US Department of Agriculture’s Healthy US-Style Eating Patterns. Recommendations provided by the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans were used by the US Food and Drug Administration to establish, for the first time, the mandatory declaration of added sugars and a Daily Value of added sugars for the Nutrition Facts label. This review provides an overview of the scientific evidence considered by the World Health Organization, the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and the US Food and Drug Administration for setting recent polices and regulations on added sugars and highlights important issues and inconsistencies in the evaluations and interpretations of the evidence.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie M. Hess ◽  
Christopher J. Cifelli ◽  
Victor L. Fulgoni III

Most Americans do not meet dairy food recommendations from the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). This study assesses differences in nutrient intake between Americans who meet recommendations for dairy intake and those who do not, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013–2014 and 2015–2016 (n = 5670 children ages 2–18 years and n = 10,112 adults ages 19+). Among children and adults, those meeting dairy food recommendations were significantly more likely to have adequate intake (% above Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)) of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, riboflavin, vitamin A, vitamin B12, and zinc and consume above the Adequate Intake (AI) for potassium and choline than Americans not meeting dairy recommendations, regardless of age, sex, or race/ethnicity. Americans meeting dairy recommendations were also more likely to exceed recommendations for sodium and saturated fat but consume less added sugars. Nearly 60% of Americans 2 years and older not meeting dairy recommendations consumed calcium and magnesium below the EAR. Only about 20% of Americans who did not meet dairy recommendations consumed above the AI for potassium. Dairy foods make important and unique contributions to dietary patterns, and it can be difficult to meet nutrient needs without consuming recommended amounts of dairy foods.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1428-1428
Author(s):  
Alexandria Kluger ◽  
Harris Lieberman ◽  
Stefan Pasiakos ◽  
Victor Fulgoni ◽  
Claire Berryman

Abstract Objectives The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) recommend dietary patterns that limit added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat and emphasize nutrient-dense foods. It is unknown whether individuals who self-report adhering to a diet that alters nutrient intake are, in fact, meeting DGA recommendations. Objective: To compare dietary intakes and adherence to the DGAs in individuals who self-report following a special diet versus those who report following no diet. Methods NHANES 2003–2014 (≥19 y, n = 30,086) data were analyzed to determine % of the population answering yes or no to “Are you on any type of special diet?”. Individuals who answered yes, were further asked, “What kind of diet are you on?” and chose from a list of special diets (e.g., low salt or sodium; sugar free or low sugar). Mean nutrient intakes for each diet population were compared to the population following no diet. Individual usual intakes were estimated to determine the % of the population above or below nutrient-specific DGA recommendations. P &lt; 0.01 was considered significant. Results In U.S. adults, 15.6 ± 0.3% answered yes when asked if they adhere to a special diet. Individuals who reported following a low sugar diet (n = 208) consumed 8.8 ± 0.7% total daily energy from added sugars, which was less than those following no diet (13.8 ± 0.1%; P &lt; 0.01). Of individuals following a low sugar diet, 67 ± 4% met the recommendation to consume &lt;10% energy from added sugar, which was a greater percentage than those following no diet (32 ± 1%; P &lt; 0.01). Individuals who reported following a low salt/sodium diet (n = 580) consumed 3317 ± 110 mg/d sodium, which was less than those following no diet (3657 ± 17 mg/d; P &lt; 0.01). Only 17 ± 2% of individuals following a low salt/sodium diet met recommendations to consume &lt;2300 mg/d sodium, which was a greater percentage than those following no diet (10 ± 0%; P &lt; 0.01). Conclusions American adults who self-report adhering to a low sugar or low salt/sodium diet consume less added sugar and sodium, respectively, than individuals who report following no diet. However, a substantial proportion of individuals following low sugar or low salt/sodium diets are still not meeting DGA recommendations. Funding Sources DMRP/USAMRDC. Views expressed are those of the authors and do not reflect official policy of the Army, DoD, or US Government.


1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 90-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Craig Lefebvre ◽  
Carol Olander ◽  
Elyse Levine

The USDA School Meals Initiative for Healthy Children, published in 1995, is a comprehensive plan that aims to ensure that children have healthy meals at school. A major part of this plan is an update of nutrition, standards that requires school meals to meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Recognizing that simply publishing a regulation is not likely to change children's diets, USDA established Team Nutrition to ensure that schools are able to implement the plan, and that students avail themselves of the healthier meals offered. The goals of Team Nutrition include: eating less fat; eating more fruits, vegetables, and grains; and eating a variety of foods.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 791-791
Author(s):  
Amy Moore ◽  
Jennifer Fisher ◽  
Katherine Morris ◽  
Christina Croce ◽  
Kai Ling Kong

Abstract Objectives The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends avoiding foods with added sugars and limiting foods higher in sodium before 2 years of age. This study examined the contributions of sweet and salty snacks in infant and toddler diets. Methods This cross-sectional analysis of dietary intake used three 24-hour dietary recalls collected from mothers of 141 infants and toddlers ages 9 to &lt;16 months. Dietary recalls were collected over the phone by trained researchers using a validated multiple pass method. Snacks high in nutrients to limit were categorized as sweet (e.g., cakes, cookies) and salty (e.g., chips, crackers) using What We Eat in America food categories. The average number of snacks per day, total energy from snacks, and nutrients to limit from snacks were evaluated for 71 infants (9 to &lt;12 months) and 70 toddlers (12 to &lt; 16 months). Results Mothers were on average 32.6 ± 4.4 years old, identified as white (78.0%), and were college graduates (87.1%). Most infants/toddlers were breastfed ≥6 months (68.1%) and were introduced to solid foods after 4 months (96.5%). More than one-third (40.1%) of infants consumed at least one snack high in nutrients to limit on any given day. These snacks accounted for 5% of total energy (24 ± 49 kcals), 56.2% of total added sugars, 11.7% of total sodium, and 2.8% of total fat in infant dietary intakes. Similarly, more than two-thirds (74.3%) of toddlers consumed at least one snack high in nutrients to limit on any given day. These snacks accounted for 6.3% of total energy (60 ± 74 kcals), 75.0% of total added sugars, 8.4% of total sodium, and 5.3% of total fat in toddler dietary intakes. Conclusions Infants and toddlers consume snacks that contribute discretionary calories and added sugars. Given the new guidelines to avoid foods and beverages with added sugars before 2 years, future studies should examine factors that influence snack intake during this early development period. Funding Sources National Institute on Child Health and Human Development, Grant/Award Number: R01HD087082-01.


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