High-sugar content foods were consumed in relatively large proportions at breakfast and snacks. The nutrient composition at lunch and supper was highest for fat (36 ± 9%E Lunch 39 ± 11%E Supper) and protein (18 ± 5%E Lunch 18 ± 6%E Supper) and at breakfast and snacks for carbohydrates (54 ± 12%E Breakfast 62 ± 12%E Snacks). The 740 healthy children included in the analysis consumed the largest proportion of daily energy at lunch (31%E ± 8, M ± SD) and supper (26%E ± 8), followed by breakfast (19%E ± 7) and snacks, with the most variable intake at morning snack (CV = 0.9).
We analyzed age trends in diurnal intake using mixed-effects beta regression. Foods were assigned to food groups variation in intake was calculated via coefficient of variation (CV). Nutrients were additionally expressed as percentage per EO (%E EO). The average energy and nutrient intakes were expressed as percentage of total energy intake (%E). Food intakes were assigned to EO based on country-specific daytimes for breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks (morning, afternoon).
Methodsĭata from 3-day weighed food records were collected from children at ages 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 years from Belgium, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain. We aimed to characterize the distribution of energy and macronutrient intakes across eating occasions (EO) in European children from preschool to school age.
