Changes in meal pattern among Norwegian children from 2001 to 2008.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to analyse changes in meal pattern among Norwegian children from 2001 to 2008 in general; to analyse associations between meal pattern and gender, parental educational level and number of parents in the household; and to analyse the association between intake of unhealthy snacks, meal pattern and the mentioned variables.

DESIGN

Within the Fruits and Vegetables Make the Marks (FVMM) project, two cross-sectional studies were conducted, one in 2001 and one in 2008, where participants from the same schools filled in a questionnaire on meals eaten the previous day.

SUBJECTS

Participants were 6th and 7th grade pupils, n 1488 in 2001 and n 1339 in 2008.

SETTING

Twenty-seven elementary schools in two Norwegian counties.

RESULTS

There were no significant changes in children's meal pattern from 2001 to 2008. For both years more than 90 % of the participants reported that they had breakfast yesterday, while 95 % had lunch, 94 % had dinner and 82 % had supper. More girls than boys reported that they had lunch yesterday (96 % v. 94 %, P = 0·03). More children with higher v. lower educated parents reported that they had breakfast yesterday (93 % v. 88 %, P < 0·001). More children living with two parents v. one parent had breakfast (93 % v. 88 %, P = 0·001) and lunch yesterday (97 % v. 93 %, P < 0·001).

CONCLUSIONS

There were no changes in meal pattern from 2001 to 2008 among Norwegian children. Characteristics associated with skipping meals were living in a one-parent family and having lower educated parents.