Examining school day dietary intakes among Canadian children

Understanding how dietary intakes vary over the course of the school day can help inform targeted school-based interventions, but little is known about the distribution or determinants of school day dietary intakes in Canada. This study examined differences between school hour and non-school hour dietary intakes and assessed demographic and socio-economic correlates of school hour diet quality among Canadian children. Nationally representative data from the Canadian Community Health Survey were analyzed using 24-h dietary recalls falling on school days in 2004 (n = 4827). Differences in nutrient and food group densities during and outside of school hours and differences in School Heathy Eating Index (School-HEI) scores across socio-demographic characteristics were examined using survey-weighted, linear regression models. Children reported consuming, on average, 746 kcal during school hours (1/3 of their daily energy intakes). Vitamin A, D, B12, calcium, and dairy products densities were at least 20% lower during school hours compared to non-school hours. Differences in School-HEI scores were poorly explained by socio-demographic factors, although age and province of residence emerged as significant correlates. The school context provides an important opportunity to promote healthy eating, particularly among adolescents who have the poorest school hour dietary practices. The nutritional profile of foods consumed at school could be potentially improved with increased intake of dairy products, thereby increasing intakes of protein, vitamin A, D, calcium and magnesium.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author