*3.1. Subjects Characteristics*

Table 1 shows the control group's demographic characteristics, comprising 57 healthy children and the ASD group, including 54 patients. The proportion of boys with ASD was higher than that of girls. There were no significant differences in weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) between the two groups.


**Table 1.** Demographic and anthropometric characteristics of the group of children with autism spectrum disorders and the control healthy group.

ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorders; BMI: Body Mass Index. The data have been expressed as mean ± standard deviation and absolute frequencies (%).

#### *3.2. Food Group Consumption According to Food Frequency Questionnaires and Adequacy to the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition (SENC) Dietary Guidelines*

Children with ASD consumed more cereals and pasta, and milk and dairy products than the control group; in contrast, ASD children consumed fewer lean meat, eggs, and beverages. The questionnaires highlighted the consumption, in shredded form, preferably of chicken or beef with vegetables, and to a lesser extent fatty meats and fish (Table 2).

**Table 2.** Food group consumption according to food frequency questionnaires in Spanish preschool children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).


Food servings are shown in mean ± standard deviation in servings per day (s/d) or servings per week (s/wk). Statistical differences were calculated using the U-Mann Whitney test between ASD and the control groups (\* *p* < 0.05).

Table 3 shows the food group consumption according to food frequency questionnaires and adherence to the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition (SENC) dietary guidelines for preschool children with ASD compared with the control group. A higher percentage of ASD children consumed four to six servings per day of cereals and pasta compared with the control group. A significantly higher percentage of ASD children consumed more than six servings of milk and dairy products compared with the control children. A high percentage of ASD children consumed less than three servings/wk of lean meats and eggs compared to the control children.

In contrast, both groups of children consumed an excess of fatty meats and their foodstuffs. The majority of ASD children consumed 2–3 servings of fat daily, whereas 22.8% of the control children consumed more than 3 servings/d. Finally, more than 85% of both ASD and control children consumed more servings than those recommended for beverages, snacks, sweets, bakery, and pastry.


**Table 3.** Percentage of food group consumption (in servings per day or week) according to food frequency questionnaires and adequacy to the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition (SENC) dietary guidelines of preschool children with ASD compared with a healthy control group.

SENC recommended food servings are shown in servings per day (s/d) or servings per week (s/wk), and the frequency of food consumption data are expressed as percentages (below). Statistical differences were calculated using a Chi-square test \* Includes mostly olive oil for meal preparation.
