The Foods Most Consumed by German Children and Adolescents: Results of the DONALD Study

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Abstract
Background: For a successful nutrition counseling of children and adolescents, knowledge of dietary habits is mandatory. This report describes food group intake and gives details of the customary food selection of healthy German children and adolescents. Main foods which are consumed in large amounts were identified as those on which health promotion should be concentrated. Methods: 3-day weighed dietary records of 344 children (age range 4–6 years) and 92 adolescents (age range 13–14 years) concerning the period 1990–1997 of the DONALD Study (Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed Study) were evaluated. Results: The number of different foods recorded during the 3-day observation period ranged from 21 to 70 and was independent of age or sex. In contrast to dietary guidelines, the consumption of animal foods and ’fats/oils’ exceeded the consumption of plant foods with the exception of adolescent girls. Food selection was very similar in age and sex groups. Conclusion: Our study shows that under preventive aspects the current food selection could be improved without disturbing the prevailing dietary habits and food preferences.