Predictors of nutritional adequacy in mother-toddler dyads from rural families with limited incomes.
OBJECTIVE
To predict the mean adequacy ratio (MAR) scores of mothers and toddlers from intakes of fruits, vegetables, and dairy group foods and being seated during mealtimes.


METHODS
This was a regression analysis of cross-sectional data of the diet quality and being seated during mealtimes of 100 rural mother-toddler dyads from limited-income families using two 24-hour dietary recalls. Children were 11 to 25 months of age and at or below 100% of the poverty index.


METHODS
Dietary quality for mothers and toddlers was assessed using a MAR score for eight different nutrients (vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, folate, calcium, zinc, iron, and magnesium), and a score of 85 or above was considered nutritionally adequate. The main food groups of interest were servings from the fruits, vegetables, and dairy group foods. Mealtime sitting behavior was the percentage of times the toddler remained seated while eating.


RESULTS
Servings of fruits, vegetables, and dairy foods predicted 0.62 of the variance in the mother's MAR score, whereas vegetable and dairy intakes along with being seated while eating indicated nutritional adequacy for toddlers. Mothers with low MAR scores were most likely to have toddlers with poor diets, although few toddlers had poor diet quality.


CONCLUSIONS
Adequate intakes of dairy, vegetables, and whole fruits along with being seated while eating could be quick assessment tools to screen toddlers for nutritional risk. Mothers with poor diet quality were likely to have toddlers with poor diets; low intakes of fruits, vegetables, and dairy foods were markers for poor diet quality in mothers.
Hoerr
Sharon L
SL
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA. hoerrs@msu.edu
Horodynski
Mildred A
MA
Lee
Seung-Yeon
SY
Henry
Michelle
M
D000328:Adult; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003611:Dairy Products; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011203:Poverty; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D014675:Vegetables