Dietary Quality of Diverse, Rural Adolescents Using the Healthy Eating Index - 2010.

Objective: We report baseline dietary intake using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) - 2010 in rural, diverse adolescents from Minnesota. Methods: In 2013-2014, 9th-10th graders who reported eating breakfast less than 3 or fewer times per week were recruited from 16 rural schools. Data included computer-based survey results, measured height and weight, and 24-hour dietary recalls. Schools provided student data on free/reduced meal status. The HEI-2010 was calculated from 24-hour dietary recalls. Regression models assessed demographic differences in HEI-2010. Results: The sample mean HEI-2010 score was 52 out of 100 (N = 732 adolescents). Boys (mean HEI-2010=50.1) were statistically significantly lower than girls (mean HEI-2010=53.4). There was no significant difference by free/reduced price lunch or white versus students of color. Conclusion: Rural adolescent breakfast skippers report poor dietary intake quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]