Food patterns of Spanish schoolchildren and adolescents:: The enKid Study

Objective: To evaluate dietary habits and nutritional status of Spanish schoolchildren and adolescents. Design: Cross-sectional study by face-to-face interview. Methods: A random sample of 3534 people aged 2 to 24 years were interviewed by a team of 43 dietitians in the subjects' homes. Interviews included 24-hour recalls (a second 24-hour recall in 30% of the sample), a food-frequency questionnaire and other questions including lifestyles, knowledge and food preferences. Results: The participation rate was 68%. Mean daily energy consumption was 2189 kcal among males and 1781 kcal among females, and the percentage of energy from fat and saturated fat was 39.8% and 13.4%, respectively, without any differences by gender. Of females, 95% showed folic acid intakes below 200 mug day(-1). Consumption expressed as food groups reflected a westernised Mediterranean pattern. Conclusions: The enKid Study provides reliable and useful nutrition information for children and adolescents in Spain, having incorporated a rigorous methodological design within a representative sample.