Changes in the contribution of snacks to the daily energy intake of Finnish adults
Abstract
This study presents data on the contribution of eating occasions to the daily intakes of energy and nutrients. The 48-h dietary data of Finnish adults were gathered from two independent, population-based health surveys undertaken in 2002 and 2007. Snack-dominated and main-meal dominated eating patterns were defined as the habit of obtaining the majority of daily energy from snacks or from main meals. The snack-dominated eating pattern increased in adults from 2002 to 2007, significantly in men. Mostly, similar changes in daily nutrient intakes were observed between study years within eating patterns. Higher alcohol intake in men and higher sucrose intake and lower fibre intake in women were associated with the snack-dominated eating pattern. Due to instability in the snack-dominated eating pattern we conclude that main meals and snacks seem to be parallel ways of composing daily diet with only a few dietary differences.
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The period of time used to separate different eating occasions varies across studies, with intervals of 15 min, 30 min, 45 min, or 1 h reported.
“Indeed, the period of time used to separate different EO varies across studies, with intervals of 15 min( 40 , 42 , 50 ), 30 min( 53 ) or 45 min( 15 ) or 1 h( 51 ) reported.”
From Understanding meal patterns: definitions, methodology and impact on nutrient intake and diet quality (2015) · cites this paper as [53]
Meal patterns were mostly participant-identified, although these studies varied in the additional criteria used to determine an individual eating occasion, meal and/or snack, and their treatment of beverages.
“Meal patterns were mostly participant-identified( 15 , 23 , 45 – 48 , 52 , 53 , 57 , 66 , 69 , 70 , 75 , 77 , 78 , 82 ), although these studies varied in the additional criteria used to determine an individual EO, meal and/or snack, and their treatment of beverages.”
From Understanding meal patterns: definitions, methodology and impact on nutrient intake and diet quality (2015) · cites this paper as [53]
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- Authors
- Ovaskainen, M.-L., Tapanainen, H., & Pakkala, H.
- Affiliations
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (FI)
- Corresponding author
- Ovaskainen, Marja-Leena
- Venue
- Appetite
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-06
- Volume
- 54
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 623-626
- ISSN
- 0195-6663 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2042920724
- Cited by
- 49
- References
- 19
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 2 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 1.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Appetite (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- STM:n Hallinnonalan avoin julkaisuarkisto (Julkari) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Lifestyle Studies
- Keywords
- snacking, dietary habits, daily energy intake, nutrient intake, main meals, alcohol consumption, sucrose intake, dietary fiber, sex differences, Finnish adults
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Alcohol Drinking, Energy Intake, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diet, Diet Surveys, Dietary Fiber, Feeding Behavior, Female, Finland, Food, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Sex Factors, Dietary Sucrose
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