Study finds that children eating certain grain foods have higher quality diets
A new study published this week in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrition Journal highlights the nutrition benefits associated with the consumption of grain foods by children and adolescents. An analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2005–2010, found that U.S. children and adolescents who consume certain grains not only enjoy better overall diet quality and greater nutrient intake compared to children who don’t regularly consume grains, but also have diets lower in fat. These findings are compelling given the current focus on childhood obesity, which affects about 12.7 million children and adolescents, approximately 17 percent of youth in America.
Researchers used cluster analysis to identify current patterns of grain consumption in children and adolescents in the U.S. and compared nutrient intakes, including dietary fiber, iron, magnesium and folate, against their counterparts who don’t often eat grain foods. They also evaluated associations between grain patterns of consumption and overall diet quality.