Foods Offered and Plate Waste Among School-Aged Children: A Descriptive Study

OBJECTIVE: To (1) describe foods offered to children and their plate waste, (2) assess how foods offered compare to the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA-2020), and (3) compare foods offered with foods consumed. METHODS: We conducted a 3-day assessment with the remote food photography method (RFPM) among 38 child-caregiver dyads. Variables measured were energy, nutrients, and Healthy Eating Index-2020 scores for foods offered, consumed, and remaining as plate waste. Linear mixed models examined differences between foods offered, recommended intakes, and foods consumed. RESULTS: Foods offered exceeded the DGA-2020 (difference) for sodium (1,034.5 mg), saturated fat (2%), and added sugars (11%), and did not meet the minimum DGA-2020 threshold for fiber (-5.18 g) and calcium (-228.7 mg). Foods offered had a Healthy Eating Index-2020 score 1.3 units higher than the score of foods consumed. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Interventions that target improvements in the quality of foods offered to children are needed.