Abstract
The UK Eatwell Plate is consumer based advice recommending the proportions of five food groups for a balanced diet: starchy foods, fruit and vegetables, dairy foods, nondairy sources of protein and foods and drinks high in fat or sugar.
Many foods comprise ingredients from several food groups and consumers need to consider how these fit with the proportions of the Eatwell Plate. This involves disaggregating composite dishes into proportions of individual food components. The present study aimed to match the diets of adults in Scotland to the Eatwell Plate dietary recommendations and to describe the assumptions and methodological issues associated with estimating Eatwell Plate proportions from dietary records.
Methods
Foods from weighed intake records of 161 females and 151 males were assigned to a single Eatwell group based on the main ingredient for composite foods, and the overall Eatwell Plate proportions of each subject's diet were calculated. Food group proportions were then recalculated after disaggregating composite foods.
Results
The fruit and vegetables and starchy food groups consumed were significantly lower than recommended in the Eatwell Plate, whereas the proportions of the protein and foods high in fat or sugar were significantly higher. Failing to disaggregate composite foods gave an inaccurate estimate of the food group composition of the diet.
Conclusions
Estimating Eatwell Plate proportions from dietary records is not straightforward, and is reliant on methodological assumptions. These need to be standardised and disseminated to ensure consistent analysis.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 262-268 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 13 Aug 2015 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2016 |
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Keywords
- Eatwell plate
- food-based dietary guidelines
- disaggregation
- food diaries
Cite this
Using food intake records to estimate compliance with the Eatwell plate dietary guidelines. / Whybrow, S.; Macdiarmid, J. I.; Craig, L. C. A.; Clark, H.; McNeill, G.
In: Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Vol. 29, No. 2, 04.2016, p. 262-268.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Using food intake records to estimate compliance with the Eatwell plate dietary guidelines
AU - Whybrow, S.
AU - Macdiarmid, J. I.
AU - Craig, L. C. A.
AU - Clark, H.
AU - McNeill, G.
N1 - This work was supported by the Scottish Government's Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) Division. The original studies, from which the current data were taken, were funded by the Food Standards Agency, UK, and the Biscuit, Cake, Chocolate and Confectionery Association, London, UK.
PY - 2016/4
Y1 - 2016/4
N2 - BackgroundThe UK Eatwell Plate is consumer based advice recommending the proportions of five food groups for a balanced diet: starchy foods, fruit and vegetables, dairy foods, nondairy sources of protein and foods and drinks high in fat or sugar.Many foods comprise ingredients from several food groups and consumers need to consider how these fit with the proportions of the Eatwell Plate. This involves disaggregating composite dishes into proportions of individual food components. The present study aimed to match the diets of adults in Scotland to the Eatwell Plate dietary recommendations and to describe the assumptions and methodological issues associated with estimating Eatwell Plate proportions from dietary records.MethodsFoods from weighed intake records of 161 females and 151 males were assigned to a single Eatwell group based on the main ingredient for composite foods, and the overall Eatwell Plate proportions of each subject's diet were calculated. Food group proportions were then recalculated after disaggregating composite foods.ResultsThe fruit and vegetables and starchy food groups consumed were significantly lower than recommended in the Eatwell Plate, whereas the proportions of the protein and foods high in fat or sugar were significantly higher. Failing to disaggregate composite foods gave an inaccurate estimate of the food group composition of the diet.ConclusionsEstimating Eatwell Plate proportions from dietary records is not straightforward, and is reliant on methodological assumptions. These need to be standardised and disseminated to ensure consistent analysis.
AB - BackgroundThe UK Eatwell Plate is consumer based advice recommending the proportions of five food groups for a balanced diet: starchy foods, fruit and vegetables, dairy foods, nondairy sources of protein and foods and drinks high in fat or sugar.Many foods comprise ingredients from several food groups and consumers need to consider how these fit with the proportions of the Eatwell Plate. This involves disaggregating composite dishes into proportions of individual food components. The present study aimed to match the diets of adults in Scotland to the Eatwell Plate dietary recommendations and to describe the assumptions and methodological issues associated with estimating Eatwell Plate proportions from dietary records.MethodsFoods from weighed intake records of 161 females and 151 males were assigned to a single Eatwell group based on the main ingredient for composite foods, and the overall Eatwell Plate proportions of each subject's diet were calculated. Food group proportions were then recalculated after disaggregating composite foods.ResultsThe fruit and vegetables and starchy food groups consumed were significantly lower than recommended in the Eatwell Plate, whereas the proportions of the protein and foods high in fat or sugar were significantly higher. Failing to disaggregate composite foods gave an inaccurate estimate of the food group composition of the diet.ConclusionsEstimating Eatwell Plate proportions from dietary records is not straightforward, and is reliant on methodological assumptions. These need to be standardised and disseminated to ensure consistent analysis.
KW - Eatwell plate
KW - food-based dietary guidelines
KW - disaggregation
KW - food diaries
U2 - 10.1111/jhn.12334
DO - 10.1111/jhn.12334
M3 - Article
VL - 29
SP - 262
EP - 268
JO - Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
JF - Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
SN - 0952-3871
IS - 2
ER -