Measures of diet quality across calendar and holiday seasons among midlife women: A one-year longitudinal study using the automated self-administered 24-hour dietary recall

Authors: Jahns, Lisa; JOHNSON, LUANN - University Of North Dakota; SCHEET, ANGELA - University Of North Dakota; STOTE, KIM - State University Of New York (SUNY); Raatz, Susan; SUBAR, AMY - National Cancer Institute (NCI, NIH); TANDE, DESIREE - University Of North Dakota

Submitted to: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2016
Publication Date: 9/9/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5497212
Citation: Jahns, L.A., Johnson, L.K., Scheet, A.J., Stote, K.S., Raatz, S.K., Subar, A.F., Tande, D. 2016. Measures of diet quality across calendar and holiday seasons among midlife women: A one-year longitudinal study using the automated self-administered 24-hour dietary recall. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 116(12):1961-1969. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2016.07.013.

Interpretive Summary: Over the past 30 years, the US food supply has changed dramatically. In particular, fresh produce, including specialty foods such as berries, has become widely available throughout the country at any time during the year. These market changes may have had profound effects on seasonality of the US diet, particularly for vegetables and fruits. However, prices, as well as quality, of various forms of produce still vary seasonally. While amounts of produce consumed may no longer vary, individual vegetables and fruits consumed may fluctuate by season. In this study we asked women to report everything they ate and drank for a 1-year period. We analyzed the diet reports by season and examined diet during the holiday period from November 20-January 2. We examined overall diet quality using the Healthy Eating Index-2010, which measures diet quality. We also examined intake of fresh fruits and vegetables by season. There were no seasonal differences in overall diet quality. More lettuce/mixed lettuce salad was consumed in summer than in winter, and more fresh tomatoes in summer and fall compared to winter. More corn, berries, peaches or nectarines and melons were consumed in summer. There was no seasonal difference in reported intakes of energy. The total Healthy Eating Index-2010 score for dietary intake observed over the holiday season was lower than the rest of the year, but reported energy intake was not different. In this population, diet quality is significantly lower during the holiday period, but mostly similar by season. Multiple recalls in any season can give a reasonable representation of usual diet quality throughout the year, but may miss important differences in the intake of specific vegetables and fruits.

Technical Abstract: Background: Systematic seasonal bias may confound efforts to estimate usual dietary intake and diet quality; little is known of dietary quality over the holiday season. Objectives: Test for differences in intakes of energy, percentage of energy from macronutrients, vegetables and fruits, and diet quality measured using the Healthy Eating Index-2010 by calendar and holiday seasons. Design: Cohort study. Participants/setting: Data are derived from the Life in All Seasons study. Two cohorts of women aged 40-60 (n = 52) from the greater Grand Forks, ND area were followed for 1 year each between July, 2012 and July, 2014. Each woman completed an online diet recall using the Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour Dietary Recall every 10 days during the year. Statistical analyses: Effects of calendar and holiday seasons on intakes of energy, percentage of energy from macronutrients, Healthy Eating Index-2010 total and component scores and grams per day of individual vegetables and fruits were tested using mixed linear models. Results: There were seasonal differences in some Healthy Eating Index-2010 component scores but not in overall scores. More lettuce/mixed lettuce salad was consumed in summer than in winter (P = 0.03), and more fresh tomatoes in summer and fall compared to other seasons (P < 0.01). More corn, berries, peaches or nectarines and melons (P < 0.01) were consumed in summer. There was no seasonal difference in reported intakes of energy (P = 0.79). The total Healthy Eating Index-2010 score for dietary intake observed over the holiday season was lower than rest of the year (P < 0.001), but reported energy intake was not different (P = 0.23). Conclusions: In this population, diet quality is significantly lower during the holiday period, but mostly consistent by season. Multiple recalls in any season can give a reasonable representation of usual overall diet quality throughout the year, and holidays should not be excluded.