Does food insecurity affect food and drink intake among toddlers in Oregon?

Background: Food insecurity has detrimental effects on developing children. Few population-based studies, however, have examined the association between food insecurity and food and drink intake. Objective: To determine whether independent associations exist between food insecurity and intake of vegetables, fresh or canned fruit, candy or cookies, French fries, fast food, water, milk, fruit juices, fruit drinks, soda, and sports drinks in a population-based sample. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2006–2008 Oregon Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Survey (Oregon PRAMS-2) follow-back survey of 1,661 mothers of 2-year-old children. Food insecurity was defined as mothers' report of eating less and lack of money for food. Typical weekly food and drink intake was examined in separate polytomous logistic regression models with three outcome categories: 0-1 days/week, 2-3 days/week, and 4-7 days/week. Models adjusted for maternal age, nativity, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, and poverty status. Results: Food insecurity prevalence among mothers was 12.3%. Toddlers of food insecure mothers consumed vegetables (odds ratio [OR] for 4-7 days/week=0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.28,0.90) and fruit (OR for 4-7 days/week=0.34; 95% CI=0.13,0.91) during fewer days of the week in comparison to toddlers of food secure mothers. Toddlers of food insecure mothers consumed soda (OR for 4-7 days/week=2.73; 95% CI=1.13,6.57) during more days of the week in comparison to toddlers of food secure mothers. Conclusions: Food insecurity is associated with intake of vegetables, fruit, and soda among toddlers. Strategies that provide food insecure families with more access to vegetables and fruit and less access to soda are needed.