Children are eating less dessert and candy but more fruit, cheese and meat, than they did two decades ago.
According to researchers in Bogalusa, Louisiana who looked at eating habits of 1,584 10-year-old children, the percentage of kids consuming fruit or pure fruit juice, sweetened beverages, cheese, mixed meats, and poultry, has significantly increased. During that time, consumption of fats/oils, vegetables, dessert, candy, condiments, eggs, milk, and beef has declined.
Consumption of salty snacks and beverages rose sharply, but the number of children eating them did not, possibly explained by larger quantities consumed and portions. This may shed light on increasing obesity levels among children. The study, published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, was part of a long-term study on children’s eating habits.
