A comparison of snack serving sizes to USDA guidelines in healthy weight and overweight minority preschool children enrolled in Head Start

Table 3 Intake (mean ± SD) by weight category per snacking episode in number of servings, and comparison to one USDA serving

Food group	Under/healthy weight			Overweight/obese			p-value^b
Food group	n^a	Mean intake ± SD	p-value^c	n	Mean intake ± SD	p-value^c	p-value^b
Milk	40	0.72 ± 0.27	<0.000**	15	0.86 ± 0.48	0.288	0.021*
Fruits & Vegetables Overall	39	0.77 ± 0.33	<0.000**	14	0.76 ± 0.37	0.032*	0.644
Fresh fruits	32	0.64 ± 0.35	<0.000**	8	0.78 ± 0.32	0.092	0.860
Canned fruits	30	0.90 ± 0.54	0.327	13	0.80 ± 0.52	0.206	0.761
Grains & Breads Overall	37	2.06 ± 0.95	<0.000**	14	1.97 ± 0.75	<0.000**	0.658
Low sugar/low fat^d	30	1.68 ± 0.70	<0.000**	14	1.91 ± 0.74	0.001**	0.649
High sugar/high fat^e	33	2.14 ± 1.17	<0.000**	9	2.01 ± 0.82	0.006**	0.296
Meat and Meat Alternates^f	24	2.29 ± 2.14	0.007**	10	1.97 ± 1.13	0.025*	0.100
Other Foods^g	19	1.27 ± 1.06	0.277	8	1.81 ± 1.10	0.075	0.954

Statistics are based on all observations with valid data
^an represents the total number of children analyzed per food group. Milk was the only food group offered daily, for which all participating children had a record of intake
^b p-value is referent to differences in mean intake between the under/healthy weight group and the overweight/obese group
^c p-value is referent to differences in mean intake from one USDA serving
^dLow sugar/low fat grains and breads included breakfast cereal, wheat crackers, wheat bagels, whole wheat breads
^eHigh sugar/high fat grains and breads included cookies, graham and animal crackers, cupcakes and cakes
^fMeat and meat alternates included cheeses, yogurt, eggs, deli meats, and peanut butter
^gOther foods included cream cheese, cheese dip, and ice cream

ISSN: 2052-9538