Gender differences in selected dietary intakes and eating behaviors in rural communities in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho

A series of food frequency and eating behavior-related questions were used to assess specific characteristics of a healthy eating pattern among 1,817 adults recruited from six rural communities in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. A high percentage of respondents reported low consumption frequencies for fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals, and milk. Compared to men, women reported higher intakes of fruits and vegetables except for potatoes, higher intakes of high-fiber cereals, and lower intakes of milk and sweetened beverages such as soft drinks. Overall, these data suggested that the diets of female respondents were more nutrient-dense, with the exception of milk-derived calcium, and likely to be higher in dietary fiber, phytochemicals, and various micronutrients. Women also were less likely to order super-sized portions when given the opportunity and indicated that foods eaten at dinner were prepared at home more of the time. The overall gender differences in dietary intakes and eating behaviors were consistent with the previously reported higher prevalence of overweight in men than in women within this study population.