This study aimed to assess the amount of plate waste and how plate waste
was disposed by early adolescent girls using a mobile food record
(mFR). Participants were girls nine to thirteen years residing in O’ahu,
Hawai’i (n = 93). Foods selected and leftover were estimated
using a three day mFR. Each leftover food was then classified as thrown
into the trash, fed to a pet, eaten later, or other (e.g., composted).
Repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVA) were conducted and
Tukey’s post-hoc test were used to adjust for multiple comparisons
between times (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack) on leftover food and
leftover food thrown into the trash. The percentage of food leftover
and thrown into the trash was highest at lunch. The percentage of
protein, grain, vegetables, fruit, and dairy leftover at lunch were
unexpectedly low compared to previous studies. The median for percentage
of food thrown into the trash at lunch was <5% for all food groups,
and was consistently low across the day (<10%). Average energy intake
was 436 kcal (±216) at lunch, and 80% of caregivers reported total
household income as ≥$70,000. Studies in real-time using technology over
full days may better quantify plate waste among adolescents