Dietary habits and nutrient intake of Finnish adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate food and nutrient intake and especially eating during the school day among Finnish secondary-school pupils.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire mailed to home and by 48 h dietary recall interviews performed at schools in 2007.


METHODS
Twelve schools in three cities in Finland.


METHODS
The seventh grade pupils (a total of 1469 at the mean age of 13.8 years). Questionnaire data were available from 726 pupils and dietary data from a subgroup of 40 % (n 306).


RESULTS
According to the questionnaire data, 40 % of the girls and 28 % of the boys reported eating fresh vegetables daily and the respective figures for fruit were 32 % and 23 %. Altogether, 71 % of the adolescents reported having school lunch every day. The average intake of sucrose was higher and the average intakes of fibre, iron, folate and vitamin D were lower than recommended. School lunch provided around 20 % of daily energy intake, while the recommended daily energy intake level is one-third. However, the school lunch as consumed was nutritionally superior to the other daily meals. Snacks provided 41 % of the daily energy. The most common sources of sucrose were sugary drinks.


CONCLUSIONS
Low consumption of fruit and vegetables and abundant consumption of sucrose-rich drinks and snacks are the main problems in the diet of Finnish adolescents. The nutritional quality of the school lunch is good, but the supply of healthy snacks must be improved in schools. Schools can promote healthy eating habits by making healthy choices easy during the school day.
National Institute for Health and Welfare, PO Box 30, FI-00271 Helsinki, Finland.
Ulla
U
Hoppu
Jenni
J
Lehtisalo
Heli
H
Tapanainen
Pirjo
P
Pietinen
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001628:Beverages; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015930:Diet Records; D004034:Diet Surveys; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005522:Food Services / Q000592:standards; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D018977:Micronutrients