Oklahoma community nutrition education program participant's diet quality does not differ by food security status

The purpose of the present study was to determine if reasons reported for not having enough food, food resource management behaviors, nutrient intakes, and diet quality of Community Nutrition Education Program (CNEP) participants differed by food security status. This was a descriptive study consisting of 366 female participants. Food security status was assessed using the United States Department of Agricultures (USDA) 6-item food security measure. Nutrient intake was assessed using a 24-hour food recall. Diet Quality was assessed using the USDA Healthy Eating Index (HEI). Food resource management behaviors were assessed using the CNEP survey. Estimated nutrient intakes were not significantly different across food security status. There were no significant differences between food security status and diet quality. In a low-income sample of CNEP participants, several reasons for not having enough food and the food resource management behavior of gleaning were significant by food security status. Nutrient intake and diet quality was not associated with food security status. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).