News Release

Highlights from the March 2006 issue of the American Dietetic Association

Peer-Reviewed Publication

American Dietetic Association

If Healthy Foods Are in the House, Does That Mean Kids Will Eat Them?

The fact that parents make fruits, vegetables and low-fat items available in their homes does not necessarily lead their adolescent children to eat them, say researchers at the University of Kansas Medical Center. In a study of nearly 230 African-American and white children ages 10-19 and their parents, drawn from an urban adolescent health clinic, the researchers looked for connections between "common settings of food consumption" and adolescents' intake of healthy foods.

The researchers found "home availability" had a relatively small impact on healthy eating by adolescents, especially compared with eating in restaurants. They recommend finding ways to improve "adolescents' food preparation skills and parents' awareness of ways to make healthful foods more accessible."

The researchers added: "Interventions might focus on improving the accessibility of fruits and vegetables and low-fat foods in the settings where adolescents frequently eat, such as fast-food restaurants" and encouraging "modification not only of food choice, but also of choice of meal settings."

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American Dietetic Association Issues Updated Position Statement on "Food Insecurity and Hunger in the United States"(formerly titled "Domestic Food and Nutrition Security") Food insecurity and hunger continue in millions of households across the nation, despite the agricultural bounty, wealth and inexpensive food supply of the United States. Negative nutritional and nonnutritional results have been linked with food insecurity in adults, adolescents and children, including poor dietary intake and nutritional status, poor health, increased risk for the development of chronic diseases, poor psychological and cognitive functioning and inferior academic achievement.

ADA's position statement is as follows:
It is the position statement of the American Dietetic Association that systematic and sustained action is needed to bring an end to domestic food insecurity and hunger and to achieve food and nutrition security for all in the United States. The Association believes that immediate and long-range interventions are needed, including adequate funding for and increased utilization of food and nutrition assistance programs, the inclusion of food and nutrition education in all programs providing food and nutrition assistance and innovative programs to promote and support the economic self-sufficiency of individuals and families, to end food insecurity and hunger in the United States.

The Journal of the American Dietetic Association is the official research publication of the American Dietetic Association and is the premier peer-reviewed journal in the field of nutrition and dietetics.

With nearly 65,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Based in Chicago, ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. Visit ADA at www.eatright.org.


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