MEAL PATTERNS AND FOOD SELECTION OF ELDERLY PEOPLE FROM 6 EUROPEAN TOWNS

Knowledge of meal patterns and the use of foods is important for relat ing diet to health. This paper focuses on these patterns among 681 eld erly people, aged 74-79 years, from 6 centres in the SENECA (Survey in Europe on Nutrition and the Elderly, a Concerted Action) study. Data were obtained using a standardised dietary history and the Eurocode sy stem was applied for organising foods into food groups. The study reve aled clear cross-cultural differences in meal and food patterns betwee n the centres in Europe. A significant negative relation was observed between energy intake at midday and geographical latitude of the study town. For other main meals no such relationship emerged. As for food selection, this analysis adds to the evidence of a healthy food choice in some centers in the South, which might be mediated by the composit ion and size of the midday meal. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.