Original Article
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) 61, 655–663. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602565; published online 6 December 2006
Nutrient intake and plate waste from an Australian residential care facility
Guarantor: CA Nowson.
Contributors: CAN was the chief investigator of this survey whose major role was initiating the survey, designing the survey objectives and specifying the best method for data collection. CAN also provided support with the statistical analyses, data interpretation and the compilation of the completed manuscript. JAG was the PhD student involved in acquisition of subjects, data collection, statistical analyses, interpreting results and the compilation of this manuscript.
1School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
Correspondence: JA Grieger/Professor CA Nowson, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. E-mails: jagri@deakin.edu.au, nowson@deakin.edu.au
Received 20 December 2005; Revised 12 July 2006; Accepted 10 August 2006; Published online 6 December 2006.
Abstract
Objective:
To determine the plate waste, energy and selected-nutrient intake, from elderly residents living in a high-level care (HLC) and low-level care (LLC) facility.
Design:
Three, single, whole day assessments of plate waste, energy, and selected nutrients, using a visual rating plate waste scale.
Setting:
Long-term residential care establishment.
Subjects:
One hundred and sixty-nine (93 HLC and 76 LLC) individual daily intakes.
Main findings:
The mean energy wasted throughout the whole day was 17%. The energy wasted from main meals (16%) was significantly less than the energy wasted at mid-meals (22%, P=0.049). The lowest mean energy wastage occurred at breakfast (8%) compared to lunch (22%) and dinner (25%, P<0.001). The mean (s.d.) daily energy served and consumed was 8.1 (2.0) and 6.6 (2.2) MJ, respectively. There was no difference in energy served or consumed between HLC and LLC residents. On the observation day, 60% of residents consumed less than their estimated energy requirement. The mean calcium intake was 796 (346) mg, and the median (inter-quartile range) vitamin D intake was 1.78 (2.05) 
g.
Conclusion:
On 1 day, more than half the residents surveyed were at risk of consuming an inadequate energy intake, which over-time, may result in body weight loss. Although wastage was not excessive and energy served was adequate, the amount of food eaten was insufficient to meet energy and calcium requirements for a significant number of residents and it is not possible to consume sufficient vitamin D through food sources.
Keywords:
nursing homes, energy intake, calcium, vitamin D, food waste
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