Nutritional analysis of breakfast on rising and mid-morning snack in a college population

• Published in: Nutrición hospitalaria : organo oficial de la Sociedad Española de Nutrición Parenteral y Enteral Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 1291 - 1299
• Main Author: Durá Travé, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01-07-2013
• Subjects: Breakfast; Diet; Eating; Feeding Behavior; Female; Humans; Male; Meat; Nutrition Surveys; Recommended Dietary Allowances; Sex Factors; Snacks; Spain; Students - statistics & numerical data; Universities; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1699-5198
• DOI: 10.3305/nh.2013.28.4.6597

To carry out a descriptive study on the breakfast model in a college population and to analyze the energy and nutrients provided, in connection with established nutritional requirements.
Registry of food intake for breakfast (on rising and mid-morning snack) of a school day in a sample of 740 college students (286 men and 454 women) with ages ranging 19-24 years. Gender, age, weight, height, and body mass index, and type of residence were collected from each interviewee. Percentages intakes of nutrients have been calculated in proportion to established dietary recommendations (%IR).
93.2% had breakfast on rising and 83.8% took a mid-morning snack daily, and 53.5% do both intakes. The most common foods were dairy products (92.6%), cereals (58.8%) and sweet food (57.9%) at breakfast, and cereals (46.6%), fruits (40.7%) and sausages (34.9%) at mid-morning. The %IR of the calorie intake was 24.4% in males and 24.6% in females (n.s.). The %IR of the cholesterol intake was 38.2% in males and 23.9% in females (p < 0.05). The %IR for minerals and vitamins were greater (p < 0.05) in early breakfast.
This breakfast model differs from the prototype of a healthy diet through an excessive consumption of sweet foods (early breakfast) and meat and derivatives (snack). Half of interviewee did not a mid-morning snack and the morning caloric intake was below recommended. In the case of university students concerned about the potentially negative effect it may have on academic performance.