Changes in the contribution of snacks to the daily energy intake of Finnish adults

This study presents data on the contribution of eating occasions to the daily intakes of energy and nutrients. The 48-h dietary data of Finnish adults were gathered from two independent, population-based health surveys undertaken in 2002 and 2007. Snack-dominated and main-meal dominated eating patterns were defined as the habit of obtaining the majority of daily energy from snacks or from main meals. The snack-dominated eating pattern increased in adults from 2002 to 2007, significantly in men. Mostly, similar changes in daily nutrient intakes were observed between study years within eating patterns. Higher alcohol intake in men and higher sucrose intake and lower fibre intake in women were associated with the snack-dominated eating pattern. Due to instability in the snack-dominated eating pattern we conclude that main meals and snacks seem to be parallel ways of composing daily diet with only a few dietary differences.