Original Article
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2006) 60, 494–501. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602343; published online 30 November 2005
Snacks as an element of energy intake and food consumption
Guarantor: M-L Ovaskainen.
Contributors: M-LO contributed to study design, analysis and writing. HR contributed to data collection and writing. HT contributed to data analysis and writing. M-LH contributed to data analysis and writing. TK contributed to study design and data collection. HP contributed to study design, data collection and writing.
M-L Ovaskainen1, H Reinivuo1, H Tapanainen1, M-L Hannila1, T Korhonen1 and H Pakkala1
1Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Nutrition Unit, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Correspondence: Dr M-L Ovaskainen, Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Nutrition Unit, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki, Finland. E-mail: marja-leena.ovaskainen@ktl.fi
Received 28 January 2005; Revised 6 September 2005; Accepted 3 October 2005; Published online 30 November 2005.
Abstract
Background:
An increasing frequency of snacks has been observed in meal pattern studies. Snacks can alter the diet because of their high-energy density and low-nutrient content or on the contrary.
Objective:
The prominence of snacks in energy intake and food consumption was assessed.
Design:
Dietary data were collected for 2007 adults by using a computer-assisted 48-h dietary recall in the national FINDIET 2002 survey. Energy intakes and food consumption were aggregated for snacks and for main meals.
Results:
Daily energy was mostly derived from main meals comprising traditional mixed dishes, milk and bread. However, a snack-dominating meal pattern was observed in 19% of men and 24% of women. This meal pattern was associated with urbanization in both genders and with physical work in men. Higher sucrose intake and lower intake of micronutrients were typical of the snack-dominating meal pattern compared to the others.
Conclusions:
As snacks appear to have a higher energy density and a lower content of micronutrients than main meals, a snack-dominating meal pattern is inadvisable. However, further studies are needed to examine the association between meal pattern and health status.
Keywords:
snack, main meal, eating frequency, energy intake, food consumption
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