Food consumption patterns in elementary school children.
OBJECTIVE
Food consumption was investigated in children attending three elementary schools in urban Hamilton, Ontario.


METHODS
Dietary data were collected from 92 children in grades 2 to 4 through 24-hour dietary recalls (39% participation rate). Servings of four food groups were compared with recommended daily servings in Canada's Food Guide.


RESULTS
The majority of students did not consume the recommended five daily servings of vegetables and fruit. On average, they consumed a high number of servings of "other foods," which were not included in the four food groups. More than 50% of the students did not consume the recommended daily servings of milk products, and only a small proportion (21%) drank milk during school lunch.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend that primary school educators promote the consumption of vegetables and fruits and milk products at school, either through healthy snack programs or educational programs.
Moffat
Tina
T
Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
Galloway
Tracey
T
D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009864:Ontario; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014675:Vegetables