The objective of this study was to examine agreement between parental preferences and self-reported food intake in Chilean children. In 2008,152 pairs, of 8 to 13 year old schoolchildren and their parents in Santiago were surveyed. Children self-reported their frequency of consumption of foods from various food groups. Parents reported how often they preferred their children to consume foods from these same food groups. Children reported consuming more sweets, high-calorie snacks, and fruit, and fewer grains than their parents reported preferring them to consume. Girls, 10 and 11 year olds, and children who watched television and used the computer for less than 2 hours per day had dietary patterns most closely aligned with their parents' reported preferences. Children 's dietary reports generally follow parental preferences. Intervention programs should include programs that facilitate parental guidance and encourage children to make healthy food choices at home and in school.