Abstract:
The dietary intake of Americans does not meet current recommendations. A greater desire for quick, convenient food options and food prepared outside the home (FAFH) may be two contributors to poor intake patterns. The Food Choice Process Model suggests that life changes such as becoming a parent may place additional time constraints on adults that in turn will impact on their food choices. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine differences in dietary intake of U.S. adults by (a) child presence in the household and (b) child presence plus frequency of FAFH. A sample of 4,904 adults, 18 to 50 years, was selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005 to 2008). Using linear regression and logistic regression models, dietary intake was compared based on child presence in the household while controlling for variables that represented constructs of the Food Choice Process Model. When compared to females without children, females with children consumed significantly less fiber and were less likely to meet their fiber requirements. When examined by child presence and FAFH frequency, females with low FAFH frequency (1 or fewer FAFH meals per week) without children in the household had significantly lower total fat, saturated fat, and sodium intakes compared to high frequency users regardless of child presence. Females with children with high FAFH frequency (2 or more FAFH meals per week) were less likely to meet the recommendations for fiber intake and more likely to exceed the recommendations for sodium intake compared to females with children with low FAFH frequency. There were no clinically relevant findings for men. Dietary intake of women but not men changes based on whether a child is present in the household and meals are consumed away from home.
