One way to increase WG intake on a broad level is by making changes in regulations for federally funded meal and food supplement programs. The fourth School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study

conducted in 2009 to 2010 indicated that average National School Lunch Program (NSLP) lunches only provided 6% to 10% of recommended daily amounts of WG [35] for children/adolescents. The new school meal regulations requiring that whole grain–rich foods be served in the NSLP [36] may result in an increase in the daily amount of WG consumed over time among those who participate in the NSLP. Evidence for a potential increase in WG can be drawn from improvements in the availability and intake of WG foods for women and children participating in the selleck BGB324 in vivo Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children after new regulations were established

to increase WG foods in Women, Infants, and Children food packages [37], [38] and [39]. Ready-to-eat cereals are an important source of many vitamins and minerals, especially for children. On average, RTE cereals contribute 20% of folic acid and iron and more than 10% of B vitamins, vitamin A, and zinc while contributing less than 4% of calories and total sugar in the diets of children 2–18 years of age [40]. In the current study, cooked and RTE cereals made substantial contributions to total dietary fiber, making up about 20% of the total dietary fiber intake for adults and children/adolescents. Several previous studies have shown that intake of RTE cereals among children and adolescents is related to greater total dietary fiber intake [41], [42] and [43]. Analysis of secondary data from the National Growth and Health Study showed that as children

age through adolescence, more frequent RTE cereal consumption was related to higher fiber intakes [42]. Cross-sectional data from a national Australian sample of 12- to 16-year-old boys showed that those consuming RTE cereals of all types had a higher total dietary fiber intake compared with those not eating RTE cereal [43]. Data from School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study III (2004-2005) showed that RTE cereal consumption among Paclitaxel concentration school-aged children participating in the School Breakfast Program was related to higher WG intake [41]. Previous studies have not examined the contribution of different types of RTE cereals to fiber intake as in the current study. Whole grain and non-WG RTE cereals with no added bran provided the most total dietary fiber among all children and adolescents. The relationship between the total dietary fiber content of RTE WG cereals and top fiber sources was also examined by Williams and Felt-Gunderson [44] for adults completing a 14-day eating frequency diary.