The objective of the present study was to determine the food group intakes in Irish teenagers. Analysis was based on the National Teens' Food Survey (NTFS), which was carried out between September 2005 and September 2006 to establish a database of habitual food and drink consumption in a representative sample of Irish teenagers aged 13–17 years. A 7 d semi-weighed food record was used to collect food intake data from 441 teenagers (224 males, 217 females). Analysis of dietary intake data was carried out using WISP© (Tinuviel Software, Llanfechell, Anglesey, UK), which is based on McCance and Widdowson's The Composition of Foods Sixth Edition (1).
On average, total intake of fruit and vegetables (two servings per d) was less than recommended (five servings per d(2)). Several undesirable patterns of food intake were observed for bread (mainly white), meat (mainly processed), milk (mainly whole milk) and beverages (mainly with added sugar). The patterns of consumption of food groups may have implications for dietary intakes of fat, saturated fat, added sugar, salt and dietary fibre.
The project was funded by Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000–2006.
