Nutrition survey of Finnish rural children: V. Seasonal differences in food consumption and nutrient intakes

Authors

• Leena Räsänen University of Helsinki, Department of Nutrition 00710 Helsinki 71, Finland
• Johanna Niinikangas University of Helsinki, Department of Nutrition 00710 Helsinki 71, Finland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.71948

Abstract

In connection with a survey of child nutrition in Finland the food consumption and nutrient intakes of the children in summer and in winter were compared. The material consisted of 158 children aged 5, 9 and 13 years living in Nurmijärvi. Food consumption was measured by the 24-hour recall method and the nutrient intakes were calculated on the basis of food composition tables. The interviews were made in June and the following January and February. The diet in winter included significantly more fruits and berries, inner organs and blood but less vegetables and milk products other than milk, sour milk or cheese. The differences were the same in all age groups. The intakes of energy and nutrients were notably similar in summer and in winter. Only the intakes of iron, vitamin A and ascorbic acid were higher in winter than in summer. This can be ascribed to the high consumption of inner organs and blood. The large consumption of fruits, citrus fruits in particular, raised the ascorbic acid intake to a quite high level in winter. The differences in the present study between the diets of the children in summer and winter were not similar to those observed earlier among Finnish adults. The increased use of imported foodstuffs and the development of the domestic food industry have obviously levelled off the sharp seasonal fluctuations earlier seen in the Finnish diet.