Dietary Quality of Preschoolers' Sack Lunches as Measured by the XXXX .

@entity1 @entity1277
BACKGROUND: Eating habits are developed during the preschool years and track into adulthood, but few studies have quantified dietary quality of meals packed by parents for preschool @entity1 enrolled in early care and education centers. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to evaluate the dietary quality of preschoolers' sack lunches using the @entity1277 ( @entity1277 ) 2010 to provide parents of preschool @entity1 with guidance to increase the healthfulness of their @entity1 's lunch. DESIGN: This study is a cross-sectional analysis of baseline dietary data from the Lunch Is in the Bag trial. @entity1 : A total of 607 parent- @entity1 dyads from 30 early care and education centers in Central and South Texas were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total and component scores of the @entity1277 were computed using data obtained from direct observations of packed lunches and of @entity1 's consumption. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Three-level regression models with random intercepts at the early care and education center and @entity1 level were used; all models were adjusted for @entity1 sex, age, and body mass index (calculated as kg/m(2)). RESULTS: Mean @entity1277 -2010 total scores were 58 for lunches packed and 52 for lunches consumed, out of 100 possible points. Mean @entity1277 component scores for packed and consumed lunches were lowest for greens and beans (6% and 8% of possible points), total vegetables (33% and 28%), seafood and plant proteins (33% and 29%), and whole grains (38% and 34%); and highest for empty calories (85% and 68% of possible points), total fruit (80% and 70%), whole fruit (79% and 64%), and total protein foods (76% and 69%). CONCLUSIONS: Parents of preschool @entity1 pack lunches with low dietary quality that lack vegetables, plant proteins, and whole grains, as measured by the @entity1277 . Education of parents and care providers in early care and education centers is vital to ensure that preschoolers receive high dietary-quality meals that promote their preference for and knowledge of a healthy diet.
