title: A content analysis of food references in television programming specifically targeting viewing audiences aged 11 to 14 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Examine food in cable television programming specifically targeting 11- to 14-year-olds ("tweens").
  
  
  METHODS
  Content analysis of food-related scenes (FRS)-in which food was shown, mentioned, and/or consumed-in 880 minutes of programming was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five days of afternoon/early evening television programs on the Disney Channel.
  
  
  METHODS
  Food references were compared with USDA MyPlate and classified according to modified Ratio of Recommended to Restricted Food Components.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The authors found 331 FRS, averaging 16.6 scenes/h. Preponderance of FRS was physiological needs (40.7%), followed by display (10%), party (8.5%), social event (8%), and retail store (6.6%). Snacks dominated 41% of FRS, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner were much lower in frequency. Half of FRS was visual only, followed by verbal only. Food references were not congruent with MyPlate recommendations; 42% of food items did not fit into MyPlate food groups. Only 24% of food items were fruit or vegetables, which is considerably less than recommended by MyPlate guidelines. Using modified Ratio of Recommended to Restricted Food Components, 66% of food items scored < 1.0, signifying less nutritious.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tween television programming regularly includes non-nutritious food, which likely influences tweens' attitudes and behaviors. Television programming may consider past approaches to tobacco smoking and health messages on television. More attention is warranted regarding television programming by nutrition educators, researchers, health professionals, and industry specialists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management, School of Applied Sciences, University of Mississippi, University, MS. Electronic address: mroseman@olemiss.edu.
authors.forename: Mary G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Roseman
authors.affiliation: School of Business, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA.
authors.forename: Morgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poor
authors.affiliation: Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, School of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
authors.forename: Tammy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Stephenson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004777:Environment; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005502:Food / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States
keywords: MyPlate; adolescents; content analysis; food; television