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This cross-sectional study determined whether 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) taster status moderates the relationship between food consumption patterns and body composition in children. Children were recruited (<i>n</i> = 342, 50% female, 8&#8722;10 y) from across New Zealand. Using a food frequency questionnaire, these food consumption patterns were derived: Processed Foods, Fruit and Vegetables, and Breakfast Foods. Body composition variables included: body fat (%), fat mass (kg), fat mass index (FMI, kg/m²), body mass index (kg/m²) and waist to height ratio (W:Ht). Following adjustment for confounders, Processed Foods were positively associated with %fat (<i>p</i> = 0.015), fat mass (<i>p</i> = 0.004) and FMI (<i>p</i> = 0.016). Taste test strips determined PROP status. For Breakfast Foods, there were small negative associations with all body composition variables (<i>p</i> &#8804; 0.001 to 0.037). The population sample was also stratified by PROP taster status. For the non-tasters, there were small to moderate negative associations between Breakfast Foods and each body composition variable (<i>p</i> = 0.003&#8722;0.045) except W:Ht (<i>p</i> = 0.112), and these relationships were stronger for girls compared to boys. For the tasters, there were small to moderate positive associations between Processed Foods with %fat (<i>p</i> = 0.030), fat mass (<i>p</i> &#8804; 0.001) and FMI (<i>p</i> = 0.014). In conclusion, sensitivity to bitterness may moderate the relationship between food consumption patterns and body composition in children.