Objectives

We determined diet quality trends among nationally representative samples of preschoolers between 1977 and 1998.

Methods

Adjusted diet quality index scores, overall intake, and tertiles of total score were compared for combined samples and 2 age groups using t tests with Bonferroni correction; surveys used were the US Department of Agriculture's National Food Consumption Survey 1977-1979 (n = 2342), Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals (CSFII) 1989-1991 (n = 858), and CSFII 1994-1996 and 1998 (n = 5355).

Results

Total scores increased slightly. Consumption of grains, fruits, and vegetables improved while added sugar and juice intake worsened.

Conclusions

Diet quality improved marginally since 1977. Consumption of fruits and vegetables needs to be increased and that of total and saturated fat, juice, and added sugar decreased.