Predictors of Nutritional Adequacy in Mother–Toddler Dyads from Rural Families with Limited Incomes
Presented in part at the annual meeting of the Society for Nutrition Education in Orlando, FL, July 25, 2005.
Abstract
Objective
To predict the mean adequacy ratio (MAR) scores of mothers and toddlers from intakes of fruits, vegetables, and dairy group foods and being seated during mealtimes.
Design/subjects
This was a regression analysis of cross-sectional data of the diet quality and being seated during mealtimes of 100 rural mother–toddler dyads from limited-income families using two 24-hour dietary recalls. Children were 11 to 25 months of age and at or below 100% of the poverty index.
Measures of outcome
Dietary quality for mothers and toddlers was assessed using a MAR score for eight different nutrients (vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, folate, calcium, zinc, iron, and magnesium), and a score of 85 or above was considered nutritionally adequate. The main food groups of interest were servings from the fruits, vegetables, and dairy group foods. Mealtime sitting behavior was the percentage of times the toddler remained seated while eating.
Results
Servings of fruits, vegetables, and dairy foods predicted 0.62 of the variance in the mother’s MAR score, whereas vegetable and dairy intakes along with being seated while eating indicated nutritional adequacy for toddlers. Mothers with low MAR scores were most likely to have toddlers with poor diets, although few toddlers had poor diet quality.
Conclusions
Adequate intakes of dairy, vegetables, and whole fruits along with being seated while eating could be quick assessment tools to screen toddlers for nutritional risk. Mothers with poor diet quality were likely to have toddlers with poor diets; low intakes of fruits, vegetables, and dairy foods were markers for poor diet quality in mothers.
Address correspondence to: Sharon L. Hoerr, RD, PhD, FACN, 204 GM Trout, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.
ABSTRACT