title: Dietary variety increases as a function of time and influences diet quality in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the changes in dietary variety over time in children and to determine the relationship between dietary variety and diet quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dietary data were collected from fourth and fifth grade students for 14 consecutive days by a registered dietitian.
  
  
  METHODS
  Colerain School District of Cincinnati, Ohio.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were 33 children involved in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two cumulative dietary variety scores were estimated. The first was based on the Food Guide Pyramid groups: grain, fruit, vegetable, dairy, and meat (GFVDM). The second was based on the groups highlighted by the 2000 Dietary Guidelines for variety: grain, fruit, and vegetable (GFV). Diets were analyzed for energy and nutrient content.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of variance and Pearson correlation coefficients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dietary variety increased over time up to 14 days. A significant difference (P <.0001) was found for the cumulative GFVDM and GFV variety scores on days 3, 7, and 14. Positive correlations were found between the GFVDM and GFV variety scores and vitamin C and fiber.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that a 2-week period is necessary to capture food variety in children. Some associations were found between dietary variety and diet quality. New tools are needed to measure dietary variety in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0394, USA. grace.falciglia@uc.edu
authors.forename: Grace A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Falciglia
authors.forename: Ann G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Troyer
authors.forename: Sarah C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Couch
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D015930:Diet Records; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009753:Nutritive Value; D009820:Ohio; D013995:Time