Abstract
Background and objectives
A recent study showed that getting enough protein and energy in a vegan diet can be challenging. Understanding the meal patterns can help identify, how eating habits can be optimized to meet the recommendations.
Methods
Data was collected from 40 vegans by 3-day dietary food records and the dietary intake and daily meal patterns was analyzed.
Results
The variation in energy intake associates to the intake of protein and other macronutrients in the vegan diet. Many vegans (47.5%) follow a traditional pattern of three main meals a day: breakfast, lunch, dinner and some snacks. Other vegans (42.5%) are snacking throughout the day, and some eat less during the morning and afternoon getting ≥40% of their daily energy intake in the evening. The main meals contributed with 70% of the daily protein in four out of five vegans. A small subgroup (7.5%) only eats main meals and almost no snacks.
Small changes in the eating habits can be recommended. Some vegans would benefit from eating snacks with a higher protein content, and others by eating more energy and protein rich meals especially in the first part of the day.
Supplementing the meals with protein-rich bread or replacing snacks with protein-bars will increase intake.
Discussion
The meal pattern of 40 vegans, showed that with small changes such as supplementing with protein-rich bread and/or energy-rich protein-bars, can increase the daily intakes of protein and energy to meet the nutrition recommendations.
A recent study showed that getting enough protein and energy in a vegan diet can be challenging. Understanding the meal patterns can help identify, how eating habits can be optimized to meet the recommendations.
Methods
Data was collected from 40 vegans by 3-day dietary food records and the dietary intake and daily meal patterns was analyzed.
Results
The variation in energy intake associates to the intake of protein and other macronutrients in the vegan diet. Many vegans (47.5%) follow a traditional pattern of three main meals a day: breakfast, lunch, dinner and some snacks. Other vegans (42.5%) are snacking throughout the day, and some eat less during the morning and afternoon getting ≥40% of their daily energy intake in the evening. The main meals contributed with 70% of the daily protein in four out of five vegans. A small subgroup (7.5%) only eats main meals and almost no snacks.
Small changes in the eating habits can be recommended. Some vegans would benefit from eating snacks with a higher protein content, and others by eating more energy and protein rich meals especially in the first part of the day.
Supplementing the meals with protein-rich bread or replacing snacks with protein-bars will increase intake.
Discussion
The meal pattern of 40 vegans, showed that with small changes such as supplementing with protein-rich bread and/or energy-rich protein-bars, can increase the daily intakes of protein and energy to meet the nutrition recommendations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 17 Jun 2024 |
| Publication status | Published - 17 Jun 2024 |
| Event | 13th Nordic Nutrition Conference - Grieghallen, Bergen, Norway Duration: 17 Jun 2024 → 19 Jun 2024 |
Conference
| Conference | 13th Nordic Nutrition Conference |
|---|---|
| Location | Grieghallen |
| Country/Territory | Norway |
| City | Bergen |
| Period | 17/06/24 → 19/06/24 |