Table 3.

Comparison of mean food group scores during and before pregnancy of the overall sample

Overall sample (n=508)	During pregnancy		Before pregnancy		Mean difference		95% Confidence interval
Food groups	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	Mean	SD	Lower-upper limits	p-value
Dark green leafy vegetables	1.16	0.78	1.24	0.73	–0.08	1.03	(–0.17; 0.01)	0.086
Cruciferous vegetables	0.82	0.71	1.16	0.73	–0.30	1.00	(–0.40; –0.20)	<0.0001
Deep orange vegetables	0.56	0.62	1.13	0.72	–0.58	0.94	(–0.66; –0.49)	<0.0001
Other vegetables	1.40	0.65	1.19	0.76	0.21	1.00	(0.13; 0.30)	<0.0001
Citrus fruits	0.80	0.72	1.13	0.72	–0.34	1.01	(–0.42; –0.25)	<0.0001
Deep orange fruits	0.42	0.60	1.08	0.72	–0.67	0.90	(–0.74; –0.59)	<0.0001
Other fruits	0.85	0.71	1.13	0.72	–0.28	0.98	(–0.37; –0.20)	<0.0001
Beans, peas, and soya products	1.08	0.76	1.13	0.73	–0.43	1.03	(–0.13; 0.05)	0.346
Nuts and seeds	0.77	0.71	1.18	0.72	–0.41	0.98	(–0.50; –0.32)	<0.0001
Poultry	0.72	0.75	1.09	0.77	–0.38	1.08	(–0.47; –0.28)	<0.0001
Fish	0.84	0.70	1.13	0.73	–0.30	0.96	(–0.38; –0.21)	<0.0001
Low-fat dairy	0.23	0.59	1.14	0.75	–0.91	0.93	(–1.00; –0.83)	<0.0001
Whole grains	0.84	0.70	1.13	0.73	–0.29	0.97	(–0.38; –0.21)	<0.0001
Liquid oils	0.88	0.70	1.16	0.70	–0.29	1.00	(–0.37; –0.20)	<0.0001
Eggs	1.18	0.71	1.14	0.76	–0.03	1.09	(–0.07; 0.12)	0.570
White roots and tubers	0.86	0.76	0.84	0.75	0.02	1.03	(–0.07; 0.11)	0.698
Red meat	1.12	0.70	0.84	0.72	0.28	0.97	(0.19; 0.36)	<0.0001
Processed meat	1.49	0.66	0.92	0.71	0.56	0.96	(0.48; 0.65)	<0.0001
Refined grains and baked products	0.47	0.64	0.44	0.60	0.03	0.40	(–0.04; 0.11)	0.399
Sugar-sweetened beverages	1.10	0.71	0.90	0.74	0.20	0.97	(0.12; 0.29)	<0.0001
Sweets, sugary snacks, ice cream	1.15	0.72	0.81	0.73	0.34	1.03	(0.25; 0.42)	<0.0001
Fried foods	0.79	0.74	0.85	0.76	–0.06	1.02	(–0.14; 0.03)	0.225

Note: SD, Standard Deviation.