Diet Quality and Eating Practices among Hispanic/Latino Men and Women: NHANES 2011–2016

Abstract

Dietary quality of Hispanic/Latino adults residing in homes with children may differ by gender, that in turn, may impact youth through role modeling and food availability. Using a nationally representative sample (n = 1039) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011–2016), adjusted regression analyses were used to examine food-related practices, food group intake, and dietary quality among Hispanic/Latino men and women in homes with children (6–17 years). Compared to women, men had lower total 2015 Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores and component HEI scores for healthy food groups. Men also ate more meals that were not home prepared/week and purchased more foods from non-grocery stores than women. Negative food-related practices and working more hours/week may explain in part the lower dietary quality observed among Hispanic/Latino men than women. Interventions may be improved by targeting gender-specific food-related behaviors that could positively impact dietary quality of youth residing with them.