Premium
How do energy density and portion size of an entrée influence preschool children's energy intake?
Author(s) -
Leahy Kathleen Erin,
Birch Leann L.,
Fisher Jennifer O.,
Rolls Barbara J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a175-b
Subject(s) - meal , portion size , zoology , total energy , food science , medicine , psychology , chemistry , biology , displacement (psychology) , psychotherapist
The energy density (ED) of an entrée influences children's energy intake (EI), but the effect of simultaneously changing both ED and portion size of an entrée on preschool children's EI is unknown. This within‐subjects crossover design study tested whether ED and portion size of an entrée combine to affect EI in 3‐ to 5‐year‐old children. One day/week for 4 weeks, 61 children (mean BMI percentile 62.0 ± 3.3) were served an ad libitum test lunch in a child care setting. A baked pasta entrée was formulated in two versions that varied in ED due to fat and vegetable manipulations: HED entrée had 1.6 kcal/g and LED entrée had 1.2 kcal/g, a 25% reduction. There were 4 pasta conditions: 300 g of HED, 400 g of HED, 300 g of LED, and 400 g of LED. Other lunch foods (carrots, applesauce, and milk) did not vary. Children did not prefer one entrée over the other. ED, but not portion size, of the entrée significantly (p<0.0001) affected children's EI. When served the LED entrée, children consumed 25% less energy from the entrée and 17% less energy from the total meal. Children consumed more vegetables from the LED entrée lunch (29 g vs. 17 g; p<0.0001). The role of portion size in young children's EI needs further investigation. The results demonstrate that children's EI is influenced by the ED of an entrée and their vegetable intake can be increased by adding vegetables to entrées. Supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation