title: Healthy eating index measures diet quality of Brazilian children of low socioeconomic status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess the adaptation of the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) to Brazilian dietary recommendations for children aged 3 to 4 years (n = 345) and 7 to 8 years (n = 307).
  
  
  METHODS
  Dietary data were collected using two 24-hour recalls and diet quality was evaluated according to the adapted HEI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean HEI score was 65.7 ± 11.2 at 3 to 4 years and 65.0 ± 8.8 at 7 to 8 years. The HEI correlated positively with dietary variety and food groups (grains, vegetables, fruits, and meat/beans), except for milk at 3 to 4 years, and negatively with sodium, total fat, and saturated fat intake. HEI score was moderately to strongly associated with dietary fiber and several micronutrients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HEI as adapted to Brazilian dietary guidelines can be used to determine diet quality in preschool- and school-aged children in Brazil.
authors.affiliation: a Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre , Porto Alegre , BRAZIL.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rauber
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: da Costa Louzada
authors.forename: Márcia Regina
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Vitolo
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys / Q000592:standards*; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D012923:Social Class