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Nutrient intake and plate waste from an Australian residential care facility

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 61, pages 655–663 (2007)Cite this article

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) μg.

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.

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Acknowledgements

The researchers greatly appreciate the assistance of Anthony Worsely (Professor of Public Health Nutrition) and Dr Heather Jarman (Co-investigator) from Deakin University. We also greatly appreciated the assistance of a number of people from Barwon Health, including Dr Rob Malon, Dr Jeff Urquart, Ms Gabrielle Nagle (Executive); Ms Janis Brasher, Ms Christine Lunardelli, Ms Debbie Cayzer, Ms Leonie Whitla, Ms Renate Koenig, Ms Liz Marsh, Ms Anne Morgan, Ms Margaret Kerr (Unit Nurse Managers); Ms Debbie Wynd (Dietician); Ms Michelle Goding (Speech Therapist); Ms Janet Kluppels (Nurse Educator); and Mr Barry Daniels, Ms Liz Egan and Mr Ken Knocker (Food Services). Finally, thank all of the residents who participated in the survey for their invaluable cooperation. Murray Goulburn Nutraceuticals, Sigma Australian Pharmaceutical Company, Pty and the Australian Research Council provided financial support for this study, but had no input into the results presented in this report.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia

    J A Grieger & C A Nowson

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  1. J A Grieger
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  2. C A Nowson
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Correspondence to J A Grieger or C A Nowson.

Additional information

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.

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Grieger, J., Nowson, C. Nutrient intake and plate waste from an Australian residential care facility. Eur J Clin Nutr 61, 655–663 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602565

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