Beverage consumption relates to dietary quality in low‐income mothers and their toddlers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between beverage intakes and diet quality in low‐income mothers and their children. Subjects were 100 mother‐child pairs (average age=26.6 ± 5.8 yr, 19.7 ± 5.8 mo, respectively) who were eligible for the Early Head Start program. Diet quality was assessed using Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR) for seven nutrients based on two 24 ‐hour diet recalls for each subject. Beverage consumption in fluid ounces was estimated after categorizing all beverages consumed into six groups: milk, 100% fruit juice, soda, non‐carbonated sweetened beverages, caffeinated beverages and water. Most mothers were Caucasian (87%), 63% had high school or less education and 49 % were single. Mothers’ MAR was positively related to milk consumption (r=0.61, p<0.01) and negatively to soda consumption (r=−0.29, p<0.01). The children’s milk consumption positively correlated to their MAR (r=0.33, p<0.01). Milk consumption of mothers was negatively related to their soda consumption (r=−0.26, p<0.01), and children’s milk consumption negatively related to their intakes of sugar‐sweetened beverages (r=−0.20, p<0.05). The finding that milk is partially replaced by less desirable beverages like soft drinks and sweetened beverages might have implications for poor diet quality and obesity in mothers and children from low‐income families. The project was funded by 90YD01101 from ACYF: DHHS.