Dietary intake and food pattern among university students

Dietary intake and food pattern were determined among university students. Nine hundred-eighteen students (384 males and 534 females) completed a 24 hour recall and a questionnaire. This study showed an average energy intake of 10.3 and 8.0 MJ among male and female university students. The mean intakes of energy and magnesium for males and energy, iron, magnesium and zinc for females were lower to the Spanish Recommended Intakes. For males, breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks bring about 18, 33, 25 and 27% of total dairy energy, respectively, however, for females a 15, 34, 23 and 27% of total dairy energy were obtained for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, respectively. The university population consumed a diet with too much proteins and fats as compared to the Spanish recommendations. More attention should be focussed on the energy and nutrient intake for this population according to the recommended values. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.