title: Tracking food consumption frequency of children from age 4 to 6 years: the Pacific Islands Families study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report longitudinal food frequency consumption and evaluate tracking of food frequency among a cohort of New Zealand-born Pacific children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Identify the most commonly consumed foods and estimate tracking among Pacific children aged 4 and 6 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative food frequency questionnaire was administered to n>1,000 caregivers of children aged 4 and 6 years. Consumption scores were developed from averaged frequency of daily food. Foods and food groups were examined for tracking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caregivers completed questionnaires for 646 children at both ages. Twelve most frequently consumed foods were identified, accounting for up to 25% of all food consumed daily. Across ages 4 and 6, the association for frequency of the most frequently consumed foods was moderate (r(2)=0.53). Food groups: breads and cereals; meat and alternates; and vegetables and fruit constituted approximately 72% of all foods consumed daily. The association of frequency of consumption within food groups across the two measurement periods was strong (r(2)=0.96).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pacific children consume similar foods that track from age 4 through age 6 years.
authors.affiliation: Pacific Islands Families (PIF) Study, Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences, AUT University, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. faasisila.savila@aut.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Fa'asisila
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Savila
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Obolonkin
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rush
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology*; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires