Convenience Stores: Source of Food/Beverages among Children, What We Eat In America, NHANES 2015-2018

Authors: MORTON, SUZANNE - American Society For Nutrition; Rhodes, Donna; Moshfegh, Alanna

Submitted to: Worldwide Web Site: Food Surveys Research Group
Publication Type: Research Technical Update
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/8/2021
Publication Date: 9/9/2021
Citation: Morton, S., Rhodes, D.G., Moshfegh, A.J. 2021. Convenience Stores: Source of Food/Beverages among Children, What We Eat In America, NHANES 2015-2018. Worldwide Web Site: Food Surveys Research Group. Available: https://www.ars.usda.gov/nea/bhnrc/fsrg/wweia/dbrief.

Interpretive Summary: Convenience stores account for a small but growing percentage of food purchases. Using nationally representative survey data from 2015-2018, this report presents results on the contribution of convenience stores as a source of food and beverage consumption among U.S. children, ages 2-19 years. On any given day, 1 out of 6 children consumed at least one food and/or beverage from convenience stores. Consumption of food/beverages from convenience stores was highest among adolescents 12-19 years of age among all children and among males. When consumed, convenience store items contributed about one-sixth of daily intake for energy and one-third of daily intake for added sugars. Approximately half of the daily energy intake from convenience store food/beverages was consumed at snack occasions. This highlights the importance of convenience stores to U.S. dietary intake and need for further research on socio-demographic differences. This dietary data brief is available on the Food Survey Research Group website www.ars.usda.gov/nea/bhnrc/fsrg.

Technical Abstract: Food and beverages sales in convenience stores have increased over the past several years. There are more than three times the number of convenience stores in the U.S. This report presents results on convenience stores as a source of food and beverage consumption among children, 2-19 years of age, using data from What We Eat In America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-2018. Convenience stores included convenience-type stores, dollar stores, drug stores, gas stations, gift shops, and liquor/beer stores. Overall, 17% of children consumed at least one food and/or beverage, excluding plain bottled water, obtained from a convenience store on any given day. Consumption of food/beverages from convenience stores was highest among adolescents 12-19 years of age among all children and among males. Among consumers of food/beverages from convenience stores, 17% of daily energy intake came from convenience store items, with the majority (53%) of energy from these items consumed during snack occasions. When consumed, convenience store items also contributed one-third of daily intake for added sugars. The most frequently consumed food/beverages from convenience stores among children were sweetened beverages, followed by savory snacks and candy. This highlights the importance of convenience stores to U.S. dietary intake and need for further research on socio-demographic differences.