title: Variety within a cooked meal increases meal energy intake in older women with a poor appetite.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effective strategies to increase dietary intake in older persons with a poor appetite are needed. Previous studies have shown that increasing diet variety may increase dietary intake. This has not been tested in older adults with a poor appetite.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated if an increased variety of foods within a cooked meal results in a higher meal energy intake in older women with a poor appetite.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a randomized, controlled, cross-over trial among 19 older (>65 years) women with a poor appetite. Two cooked meals of similar weight and energy density (except starch) were served under standardized conditions on two weekdays: a test meal consisting of three different varieties of vegetables, meat or fish, and starch components, and a control meal without variety. Participants ate ad libitum and the actual consumed amounts and their nutritional content were calculated. Data were analyzed by mixed linear models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average intake in energy was 427 kcal (SD 119) for the test meal with variety and 341 kcal (SD 115) for the control meal without variety. This resulted in a statistically significant (for period effects adjusted) mean difference of 79 kcal (95% CI = 25-134). Total meal intake in grams was also higher for the test meal with variety (48 g, 95% CI = 1-97) but protein intake (g) was not (3.7 g, 95% CI = -1.4 to 8.8). This was consistent for all meal components except starch and within each component three varieties were consumed equally.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study suggest that increasing meal variety may be an effective strategy to increase energy intake in older adults with a poor appetite.
authors: Department of Health Sciences and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: hanneke.wijnhoven@vu.nl.
authors: Hanneke Ah
authors: HA
authors: Wijnhoven
authors: Center for Translational Research in Aging and Longevity, Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, 1700 Research Parkway, USA; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Barbara S
authors: BS
authors: van der Meij
authors: Department of Health Sciences and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Marjolein
authors: M
authors: Visser
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001066:Appetite; D003296:Cooking; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D062407:Meals
keywords: Aged; Appetite; Cross-over studies; Food intake; Malnutrition; Meals