(P09-009-23) Characterizing Dietary Intake at Dinner Among Adults in the U.S: Results From What We Eat in America, NHANES 2017–2020

Objectives: Dinner is reported by most individuals in the U.S., and accounts for a large proportion of total dietary intake. However, characterization of dinner foods/beverages using nationwide dietary data has not been conducted. The objective of this study was to describe foods consumed at dinner and delineate their contributions to dinner intake of energy and select nutrients.

Methods: One day of dietary intake from adults 20+ y (n = 7,707) participating in What We Eat in America (WWEIA), NHANES 2017-2020 was analyzed. Dinner was defined as meal occasions designated by the respondent as “dinner”, “supper” or the Spanish equivalent “cena.” Systematic rules were developed to assign items reported in combination (i.e., eaten together but coded as multiple line items) into one of the 169 WWEIA Food Categories designed for use with the NHANES 2017 - March 2020 Prepandemic dietary data. Top contributors to energy, macronutrients, and sodium at dinner were determined.

Results: Nearly all (91%) adults reported a dinner occasion on the intake day. A larger percentage of adults with family incomes >130% of the Poverty Level (PL) reported dinner relative to those ≤ 130% PL (p < 0.001). Among reporters, 67% consumed a food in a Mixed Dishes category at dinner, whereas 41% consumed a food in a Vegetables category, and 35% consumed a food in a Beverages category. Collectively, foods in the Mixed Dishes categories were among the top contributors to dietary intake of examined nutrients at dinner occasions, accounting for 46% of energy intake, 42-52% of macronutrient intake, and 56% of sodium intake. Likewise, foods in categories that defined Protein Foods, Vegetables, Grains and Beverages contributed ≥10% of intake of energy, one or more macronutrients, and/or sodium at dinner.

Conclusions: Comprehensive characterization of foods as consumed at dinner provides important context for clinicians advising clients on strategies to improve food choices at this occasion. On a larger scale, measuring current intake patterns of a meal widely reported by adults is applicable for developing national guidance promoting high quality diets.

Funding Sources: ARS, USDA.