title: Finnish Children Healthy Eating Index (FCHEI) and its associations with family and child characteristics in pre-school children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to develop a Finnish Children Healthy Eating Index (FCHEI), to determine the relative validity of the index and to examine associations between the index and familial sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional samples of children participating in a population-based birth cohort study in Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Type I Diabetes Prediction and Prevention (DIPP) Study cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-day food records from 1-year-old (n 455), 3-year-old (n 471) and 6-year-old (n 713) children were completed between 2003 and 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Validity of the FCHEI was assessed by studying the associations between the FCHEI and nutrient intakes of the children. Among all age groups, intakes of SFA and sugars decreased across increasing quartiles of the FCHEI while intakes of PUFA, dietary fibre, vitamin D and vitamin E increased. Among 3- and 6-year-olds, being cared for at home was associated with the lowest FCHEI quartile (diet that deviates most from the recommendations). The lowest FCHEI quartile was also associated with residence in a semi-urban area among the 3-year-olds and low maternal education and smoking during pregnancy among the 6-year-olds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The FCHEI serves as a valid indicator of the quality of Finnish children's diet. Public health programmes aimed at improving the dietary behaviours of pre-school aged children should aim to improve the quality of food served at home. Families with history of lower parental education, maternal smoking during pregnancy or non-urban place of residence may require special attention.
authors.affiliation: 1School of Health Sciences,FI-33014 University of Tampere,Tampere,Finland.
authors.forename: Pipsa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kyttälä
authors.affiliation: 3Division of Nutrition,Department of Food and Environmental Sciences,University of Helsinki,Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Maijaliisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erkkola
authors.affiliation: 1School of Health Sciences,FI-33014 University of Tampere,Tampere,Finland.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lehtinen-Jacks
authors.affiliation: 2Unit of Nutrition,Department of Lifestyle and Participation,National Institute for Health and Welfare,Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Marja-Leena
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ovaskainen
authors.affiliation: 2Unit of Nutrition,Department of Lifestyle and Participation,National Institute for Health and Welfare,Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Uusitalo
authors.affiliation: 5Department of Paediatrics,University of Oulu,Oulu,Finland.
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Veijola
authors.affiliation: 6Department of Paediatrics,University of Turku,Turku,Finland.
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Simell
authors.affiliation: 7Children's Hospital,University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital,Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knip
authors.affiliation: 1School of Health Sciences,FI-33014 University of Tampere,Tampere,Finland.
authors.forename: Suvi Mirjami
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Virtanen
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis; D002149:Energy Intake; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000032:analysis; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D014807:Vitamin D; D014810:Vitamin E