The Association of Meal Practices and other Dietary Correlates with Dietary Intake among High School Students in the United States, 2010

Purpose. To examine behavioral and environmental factors that may be related to dietary behaviors among U.S. high school students. Design. Data were obtained from the 2010 National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Study, a cross-sectional study. Setting. The study was school-based. Subjects. Study subjects were a nationally representative sample of students in grades 9 to 12 (n = 11,458). Measures. Variables of interest included meal practices, in-home snack availability, and intakes of healthful foods/beverages (fruits, vegetables, water, and milk) and less healthful foods/beverages (fried potatoes, pizza, and sugar-sweetened beverages). Analysis. Sex-stratified logistic regression models were used to examine associations of meal practices and snack availability with dietary intake. Odds ratios (ORs) were adjusted for race/ethnicity and grade. Results. Eating breakfast daily, frequent family dinners, and bringing lunch from home were associated with higher odds of consuming at least three healthful foods or beverages. High fast-food intake was associated with lower odds of healthful dietary intake and higher odds of sugar-sweetened beverage intake (female OR = 3.73, male OR = 4.60). Students who mostly/always had fruits and vegetables available at home had increased odds of fruits (female OR = 3.04, male OR = 2.24), vegetables (female OR = 2.12, male OR = 1.65), water (female OR = 1.82, male OR = 1.85), and milk intake (female OR = 1.45, male OR = 1.64). Conclusion. Encouraging daily breakfast consumption, frequent family dinners, and fruit and vegetable availability at home may lead to higher intakes of healthful foods among high school students.