Comparison of Discretionary Food and Drink Intake Based on a Short Web-Based Sugar-Rich Food Screener and a Validated Web-Based 7-Day Dietary Record

Abstract

A high consumption of discretionary foods and drinks has been associated with increased risk of multiple adverse health outcomes, including risk of overweight and dental caries. The family-based cluster randomized intervention study “Are you too sweet?” aimed at reducing the intake of discretionary foods and drinks in a population of children starting pre-school. As part of the intervention a new short web-based sugar-rich food screener (SRFS), was developed to make the parents and the school health nurses aware of the children’s intake of discretionary foods and drinks. In addition to the short assessment tool the parents also completed a validated web-based 7-day dietary record for the children. In the present study, estimates for intake of discretionary foods and drinks from the two assessment tools were compared (n = 80). There was significant correlation between estimates from the two assessment tools, but the SRFS provided lower estimates for intake of discretionary foods and drinks compared to the 7-day dietary record. The correlation coefficient between the two assessment tools was 0.49 (p < 0.001) and Kappa coefficient was 0.33. It is concluded that the SRFS can provide a fairly ranking of participants according to their intake of discretionary foods and drinks when compared to a validated 7-day dietary record. The screener may be a useful tool in practical settings, such as school health nurse consultations, in order to gain insight into the child’s sweet intake habits.

A Qualitative Evaluation of Social Aspects of Sugar-Rich Food and Drink Intake and Parental Strategies for Reductions

“…Through a dialogue-based approach, the school health nurse informed the family about maximum limits and possible changes with a focus on the child’s individual habits. The school health nurse’s advice and guidance were based on a preceding registration of the child’s intake of sugar-rich foods and drinks, enabling individualized guidance [ 29 ].…”

Discretionary foods and drinks in Norwegian children and adolescents’ diet: data from the national dietary survey Ungkost 3

“…The Australian study by Hadjikakou (1) showed that discretionary foods and drinks account for a significant part of the diet-related life cycle water use, GHGe and land use. A recent Danish study highlighted the need to avoid excessive consumption of discretionary foods and drinks to meet nutrient and food group recommendations without exceeding energy needs (21) . The authors argue that one of the main points to consider when adopting a more sustainable healthy plant-based diet is to limit discretionary foods and drinks (21) .…”

“…A recent Danish study highlighted the need to avoid excessive consumption of discretionary foods and drinks to meet nutrient and food group recommendations without exceeding energy needs (21) . The authors argue that one of the main points to consider when adopting a more sustainable healthy plant-based diet is to limit discretionary foods and drinks (21) . This also complies with Australian data, showing a large potential to save dietary emissions by significantly reducing discretionary food intake (9) .…”

Evaluation of Parental Acceptability and Use of Intervention Components to Reduce Pre-School Children’s Intake of Sugar-Rich Food and Drinks

“…The consultation is a mandatory practic extended from 30 to 35 min, where the additional fi discussing the intake and eating habits of sugar-rich fo intervention and as preparation for the consultation, a sh 'the sugar-rich food screener', was developed to assess th drinks prior to the health consultation at the school. The t [40]. Intervention families received a link and were aske screener' three days prior to the consultation and were t All families, including both parents and the enrolled child, were invited to the consultation with the school health nurse.…”

“…As part of the intervention and as preparation for the consultation, a short web-based assessment tool, 'the sugar-rich food screener', was developed to assess the intake of sugar-rich foods and drinks prior to the health consultation at the school. The tool was subsequently validated [40]. Intervention families received a link and were asked to fill out the 'sugar-rich food screener' three days prior to the consultation and were to register how much sugar-rich foods and drinks their child ate and drank over the past seven days.…”