The contribution of preschool meals to the diet of finnish preschoolers
Korkalo, Liisa; Nissinen, Kaija; Skaffari, Essi; Vepsäläinen, Henna; Lehto, Reetta; Kaukonen, Riikka; Koivusilta, Leena; Sajaniemi, Nina; Roos, Eva; Erkkola, Maijaliisa (2019)
Lataukset:
Korkalo, Liisa
Nissinen, Kaija
Skaffari, Essi
Vepsäläinen, Henna
Lehto, Reetta
Kaukonen, Riikka
Koivusilta, Leena
Sajaniemi, Nina
Roos, Eva
Erkkola, Maijaliisa
MDPI AG
2019
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2019112944815
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2019112944815
Tiivistelmä
Preschool meals may influence the formation of children’s dietary habits and health. We assessed the contribution of preschool meals to the diet of Finnish children. We used food record data from the cross-sectional DAGIS survey and selected recording days which included all three meals (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack) at preschool. We analyzed the diet of three- to four-year-olds (n = 324) and five- to six-year-olds (n = 233). Preschool meals accounted for 54% of the weekday’s energy intake in both age groups, and provided ≥60% of total fiber, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and vitamins D and E. More than 60% of fish dishes but only one third of total daily fresh fruit were consumed at preschool. The mean (SD) percentages of energy from protein and fat at preschool were 17% (3%) and 30% (7%) in the younger and 17% (3%) and 31% (6%) in the older age group, respectively. The mean proportions of energy from added sugar at preschool were below 5% in both age groups. On average, salt intake exceeded recommendations and 60% of salt came from preschool food. Tackling high salt intake should be a future goal of guidance for early childhood education and care food services.