Three squares or mostly snacks--what do teens really eat? A sociodemographic study of meal patterns.
OBJECTIVE
To categorize U.S. adolescents' meal patterns and related differences in dietary quality.


METHODS
Using data from the Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals, 1989-1991, meal patterns from 3 days of adolescents' (ages 11-18 years) intake (n = 1310) were examined. Consistency of meal pattern intake and associated nutrient quality was determined. Logistic regression was used to examine the effects of several sociodemographic characteristics on meal pattern consistency.


RESULTS
A higher percentage of adolescents consumed a meal pattern that included 3 meals/day than any other meal pattern: 57.4-58.7% on any given day. Forty-one percent of adolescents fell into the consistent (at least two meals on all 3 days), and only 3.5% fell into the inconsistent meal (one meal, with or without snacks, or snacks only, on all 3 days) pattern category. Logistic regression results indicated that being black [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.90, 9.27)], older (15-18) [AOR = 1.41, 95% CI (1.19, 1.67)], and from a single-parent household [AOR = 2.60, 95% CI (1.23, 5.52)] were predictive of an inconsistent meal pattern. School lunch has a positive impact on intake, increasing a consistent meal pattern from 36.0% to 44.9%.


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescents who consume at least two meals (with or without snacks) on a consistent basis have an adequate intake of calories and a more nutrient-dense diet with respect to calcium, iron, vitamin E, and fiber than those with other meal patterns. From the perspective of following a diet to prevent chronic diseases in adulthood, adolescents regardless of meal pattern, consume a diet that is too high in fat, sodium, and protein, and too low in fiber.
Siega-Riz
A M
AM
Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 27516-3997, USA.
Carson
T
T
Popkin
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D014481:United States