Food choices among white adolescents: the Lipid Research Clinics Prevalence Study

Food groups have been widely used in nutrition education but relatively few studies have employed food groups to interpret dietary intake. The 24-h dietary recalls of 534 male and 476 female adolescents, aged 10-19 yr, were analyzed using a food grouping scheme. Foods were grouped with emphasis placed on fats and carbohydrates. Frequency of use and contribution of food groups to the macronutrients were determined. When nutrient intake was analyzed as a percentage of total calories, both males and females were found to have similar profiles. More than 60% of each macronutrient was contributed by combinations of three major food groups. The meat/fish/poultry, milk/cheese/yogurt, and bread/cereal products food groups contributed 81.2% of the protein; milk/cheese/yogurt, bread/cereal products and sweets accounted for 63.0% of the carbohydrate intake; and 74.3% of the dietary fat consumption was attributable to the meat/fish/poultry, milk/cheese/yogurt, and fats food groups. There were no notable differences in the food groups used by males and females. However, differences between the sexes emerged when nutrient intakes as a percentage of calories were stratified and food group usage was investigated. Food groups associated with macronutrients that are believed to affect health status have been identified.