Consumption of Ready-to-Eat Cereal and Its Associations with Daily Nutrient Intake in Children Receiving WIC Benefits, NHANES 2013–2016

OBJECTIVES: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC program) is a federal program providing nutritious foods to eligible participants in the United States. Ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC) products that meet certain nutrition requirements are included in the WIC package. Consumption of RTEC and its association with nutrient intake in this population, however, has not been examined. This study was conducted to estimate the association between consumption of RTEC and daily nutrient intake in children receiving WIC benefits in the United States. METHODS: 531 children aged 1 to 5 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013–2016 who were receiving WIC benefits at the time of the NHANES interview were classified as RTEC eaters or non-eaters depending on whether RTEC was reported in their day-1 dietary recall. Nutrient Intake was estimated as total intake from the day-1 dietary recall and was compared by RTEC consumption status using ANOVA for survey data. RESULTS: Forty-five % of WIC children reported RTEC consumption. Those who reported RTEC consumption had significantly higher intake of energy (12%), carbohydrate (19%), dietary fiber (16%), calcium (18%), iron (75%), zinc (47%), vitamin A (36%) thiamin (39%), riboflavin (32%), niacin (41%), vitamin B6 (53%), folate (116%), vitamin B12 (57%), and vitamin D (28%), compared to non-eaters. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that consumption of RTEC was associated with higher intake of key vitamins and minerals in WIC children. FUNDING SOURCES: The study was supported by Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition, General Mills, Inc.