Dietary intake among Native Hawaiian, Filipino, and White children and caregivers in Hawai'i.

Little is published about dietary intake of children of ethnic populations found in Hawai'i, due to an absence of national statistics collected on Hawai'i's population. This information is needed to focus planning of food, agriculture and health programs aimed to prevent obesity and related chronic disease and to improve health. Dietary patterns of 156 Native Hawaiian (n=110), Filipino (n=28) and White (n=18) children and their caregivers were compared using socio-demographic, annual "food season," and 24 hour dietary recall data from a baseline survey of four lower income communities selected for an intervention program in rural Hawai'i. Ethnic differences were found in the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) dairy component, and in calcium and vitamin C nutrient intakes among caregivers only (adjusting for food season). Whites always had higher intakes of these foods and nutrients than Filipinos or Native Hawaiians. Vitamin C intake remained significantly different among ethnic groups after further adjusting for dairy food group intake. Dietary patterns showed low intake of fruits and vegetables, fiber and dairy foods among these understudied populations.