Food for thought: Exploring associations between knowledge of the Healthy Living Pyramid, the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and food group intake among Western Australian adolescents

Issue addressed Evidence indicates adolescents do not comply with the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (AGHE)-recommended daily serves (RDS). Little research has identified their level of knowledge regarding the guidelines and associations with food intake. Methods Survey methodology was used to measure knowledge of the Healthy Living Pyramid (HLP) and theAGHE-RDS. Food group intake was measured using a modified food frequency questionnaire. A generalised linear model (GLM) investigated the associations between theHLP,RDSknowledge and daily equivalent frequencies (DEFs) for each food group. Results The study comprised 190 students aged 14-15 years. The majority reported accurate knowledge of theHLP. Only fruit and vegetableRDSwas correctly identified. Participants did not meetDEFs for any food group. For bothDEFgrains (P = 0.004) and vegetables (P = 0.023) participants with correct knowledge reported aDEFcloser to theRDS. ForDEF-baked goods and snacks (P = 0.012), participants reporting correct knowledge also reportedDEFcloser to theRDS. No associations were identified for the other food groups. So what? Knowledge of theHLPwas more accurate than theAGHE-RDS. Knowledge of fruit and vegetableRDSwas better than the other food groups. The positive associations between knowledge and compliance with theRDSsuggest knowledge can influence food choice. However, the lack of associations between knowledge and consumption for most food groups suggests clear "do" messages, similar toGo for 2&5, about theRDSfor all food groups should be developed for adolescents.