Characteristics and dietary patterns of adolescents who value eating locally grown, organic, nongenetically engineered, and nonprocessed food.
OBJECTIVE
To examine characteristics of adolescents who value eating locally grown, organic, nongenetically engineered, and/or nonprocessed food and whether they are more likely than their peers to meet Healthy People 2010 dietary objectives.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis using data from a population-based study in Minnesota (Project EAT: Eating Among Teens).


METHODS
Participants completed a mailed survey and food frequency questionnaire in 2004.


METHODS
Males and females (N = 2516), ages 15-23 years.


METHODS
Dietary intake of fruit, vegetables, fat, grains, calcium, and fast food.


METHODS
Chi-square tests, logistic regression models adjusting for race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and vegetarian status.


RESULTS
Percentages of adolescents who reported that it was somewhat or very important that their food be locally grown, organic, nongenetically engineered, and nonprocessed were 20.9%, 23.2%, 34.1%, and 29.8%, respectively. Those who valued each practice were more likely than their peers to be nonwhite (P < .001) and have a low socioeconomic status (P < .001). Adolescents who valued >/= 2 practices were more likely than their peers to have a dietary pattern consistent with the Healthy People 2010 objectives (P < .001) for fruit, vegetable, and fat intake.


CONCLUSIONS
It may beneficial to discuss alternative food production practices as part of nutrition education programs for adolescents.
Robinson-O'Brien
Ramona
R
Nutrition Department, College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University, St Joseph, Minnesota 56374, USA. rrobinsonobrien@csbsju.edu
Larson
Nicole
N
Neumark-Sztainer
Dianne
D
Hannan
Peter
P
Story
Mary
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D001290:Attitude / Q000208:ethnology; D004041:Dietary Fats; D002523:Edible Grain; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D058870:Food, Organic; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D040361:Healthy People Programs; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult
D004041:Dietary Fats