What children eat during afternoons and evenings: is it important?
OBJECTIVE
To complete a description of the dietary intakes of New Zealand schoolchildren by describing afternoon and evening foods and nutrients.


METHODS
Twenty-four hour dietary recall data from the 2002 Children's Nutrition Survey were analysed to describe food and nutrient intakes during the afternoon (14.00 to 16.59 hours) and evening (17.00 to 23.59 hours).


METHODS
New Zealand homes and schools.


METHODS
Children (n 2875) aged 5-14 years.


RESULTS
Most children consumed something during the afternoon (79 %) and evening (98 %). Children were less likely to consume something during non-school day afternoons; if 11-14 years of age; and when of Pacific ethnicity. Afternoon food consumers had higher daily intakes for most nutrients. Afternoon intake accounted for much of this difference. In the afternoon, children consumed fruit (26 %) and biscuits/crackers (21 %). Evening eating contributed to daily intakes of energy (40 %), fat (43 %), carbohydrate (35 %), sucrose (20 %), glucose (24 %), vitamin A (47 %), Ca (26 %) and Fe (40 %). Children aged 5-6 years consumed a lower proportion of their daily energy intake during the evening than older children. In the evening, just one-third of children consumed vegetables (45 % if including potato/kumara/taro), 19 % fruit and 17 % ate hot chips. Children were more likely to consume vegetables if they also consumed potato/kumara/taro. Twenty-three per cent of children had powdered drinks/cordials, 21 % had soft drinks and 19 % had milk.


CONCLUSIONS
Consuming foods/drinks in the afternoon positively influenced macronutrient distribution, increasing the carbohydrate proportion. During the evening 40 % of energy intake was consumed but less than one-half of children consumed vegetables; thus inclusion of vegetables in the evening is important, particularly in meals without potato/kumara/taro.
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
Jennifer E
JE
Rockell
Paula M L
PM
Skidmore
Winsome R
WR
Parnell
Noela
N
Wilson
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002253:Carbonated Beverages; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D009520:New Zealand; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012574:Schools; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014675:Vegetables