TABLE 5.

HEI-2015 total and component scores on a given day among the US population (≥2 y), by the number of meals consumed: NHANES 2013–2016¹

	Breakfast, lunch, and dinner	Any 2 meals	Difference in means	P (α = 0.0002)
HEI-2015 component
Total vegetables	3.48 (0.11)	3.17 (0.08)	0.308	<0.001
Greens and beans	3.34 (0.24)	2.77 (0.18)	0.568	<0.001
Total fruit	3.16 (0.12)	2.36 (0.13)	0.807	<0.001
Whole fruit	4.70 (0.22)	3.18 (0.19)	1.518	<0.001
Whole grains	3.35 (0.15)	2.32 (0.13)	1.031	<0.001
Dairy	6.32 (0.18)	5.43 (0.16)	0.898	<0.001
Total protein foods	5.00 (0.00)	5.00 (0.00)	0.000	—
Seafood and plant protein	5.00 (0.00)	4.87 (0.17)	0.134	<0.001
Fatty acid ratio	4.14 (0.21)	4.10 (0.12)	0.045	<0.001
Sodium	3.30 (0.15)	4.42 (0.26)	−1.125	<0.001
Refined grains	6.40 (0.15)	6.38 (0.20)	0.015	0.0005
Saturated fat	5.05 (0.16)	5.29 (0.17)	−0.245	<0.001
Added sugar	7.34 (0.14)	6.04 (0.20)	1.305	<0.001
HEI-2015 total score	60.6 (1.0)	55.3 (0.9)	5.26	<0.001

¹Values are HEI score (SE) unless otherwise indicated. HEI, Healthy Eating Index.