Comparison of the dietary intakes of two different groups of children (grades 4 to 6) before and after the Kahnawake Schools Diabetes Prevention Project.

The diet of Mohawk children (grades 4 through 6) was assessed using 24-hour recalls after 4 years' participation in the Kahnawake Schools Diabetes Prevention Project. Analysis compared mean intakes of energy, fat, and sucrose, and proportions of children consuming each food. No significant difference was found in the mean intake of energy, fat, and sucrose. There was a significant decrease in the frequency of consumption of high-fat foods (P<.05) and fruits (P<.001), and a significant increase in the energy contribution of white sugar (P<.05). Results illustrate the complexity of food choices and suggest that specific nutrition education targets need to reflect newly available food-items.