Consumption of nutrients, alimentary habits and nutritional status of the Reus population: VII. Distribution of energetic and macronutrient intake in the different meals depending on the age and sex.

Identifier:  PC:1575

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/PC1575

Authors:  J Salas; J Canals; I Font; J Fernández-Ballart; C Martí-Henneberg

Abstract:
An analysis of the distribution of the intake of food and nutrients among the different meals of the day was performed in a randomly selected sample from an urban nucleus. The caloric intake in children and adolescents was widely higher than recommended. This difference was not justified by growth or the difference in physical activity. The energy intake during the 5 hour morning period was nearly half the intake in the afternoon period, and it was inferior to recommendations in all ages. The proportion of basic constituents in the composition of the different meals vas established by age 3 years, with no significant variation thereafter. From that age onwards to major meals (lunch and dinner) and two minor meals (breakfast and afternoon snack) with similar composition, were stablished. Alimentary habits are settled at age 3 years. Therefore, we think that the maximal educational effort should be carried our at those early ages.