title: Micronutrients on the Menu: Enhancing the Quality of Food in Long-term Care for Regular, Nontherapeutic Menus.
abstract: Micronutrient (vitamin and mineral) deficiencies may exacerbate prevalent health conditions occurring in long-term care (LTC) residents, and current food provision may potentiate this problem. A micronutrient-focused, food-first approach to menu planning may address this gap by emphasizing nutrient-dense foods. The objectives were to determine if: (i) selected LTC menus met micronutrient and Canada's Food Guide (CFG) recommendations, and (ii) recommendations can be met through food alone with strategic menu planning. Regular, nontherapeutic menus (week 1, all meals) from diverse LTC homes (n = 5) across Canada were analyzed for micronutrient content using Food Processor and CFG servings. Site dietitians confirmed menu analyses. Five super-menus were created and analyzed for comparison. The nutrient content of the menus varied significantly across homes. Micronutrients of greatest concern were (mean ± SD) vitamin D (8.90 ± 5.29 µg/d) and vitamin E (5.13 ± 1.74 mg/d). Folate, magnesium, and potassium were also below recommendations. Super-menus of equal food volume met recommendations for all micronutrients except vitamin D (56%), vitamin E (84%), and potassium (85%). Meeting most micronutrient recommendations is possible with creative and deliberate menu planning. Knowledge translation of best practices is needed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
authors.forename: Ivy T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: b Professor and Schlegel Research Chair, Nutrition and Aging, Schlegel-University of Waterloo, Research Institute for Aging and Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
authors.forename: Heather H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: c Department of Food Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duizer
authors.affiliation: a Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stark
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003611:Dairy Products; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D063427:Food Quality; D005522:Food Services; D005638:Fruit; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008612:Menu Planning; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis*; D017419:Potassium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D014675:Vegetables; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D000067348:Whole Grains
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D018977:Micronutrients; D017419:Potassium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D; D014810:Vitamin E; D005492:Folic Acid; D008274:Magnesium