[Breakfast and snack of schooled adolescents in Santander]

To study the breakfast model and food intake at mid-morning (snack) in schooled adolescents at Santander city.

A cross-sectional study was performed analyzing a sample of 403 adolescents: 232 girls (58%; 95% CI: 52%-62%) and 171 boys (42%; 95% CI: 38%-48%), with ages between 12 and 19 years, schooled at 12 second degree education centers of Santander, by means of a closed questionnaire and a recall 24 hours later.

Five percent (95% CI: 3.1%-7.6%) of the adolescents referred neglecting breakfast. The most consumed foods were milk (47%; 95% CI: 42%-52%), chocolate milk (40%; 95% CI: 36%-45%), and cookies (45%; 95%CI: 36%-45%). On the other hand, 63% of adolescents consume whole milk (95% CI: 58%-70%), 21% semi-skimmed milk (95%CI: 17%-26%), and 11% skimmed milk (95% CI: 8%-15%). A decreasing lineal tendency in whole milk consumption is observed and a parallel increase in consumption of milks with a lower fat content as the academic year of adolescents advances (Armitage's chi-square test for lineal tendency = 2.32; p = 0.02). Boys consume an average of 3.0 (SD = 1.35) different foods during breakfast and girls 2.4 (SD = 1.20). Forty-three percent (95% CI: 38%-48%) of adolescents have a snack, which means that 2% of adolescents do not have breakfast or a snack (95% CI: 1%-4%). Breakfast represents 18% (95% CI: 16%-19%) of the total daily energy intake, whereas for snack, this percentage is 16% (95% CI: 14%-17%).

it is necessary to promote consumption of a healthy breakfast and snack that provide an appropriate quantitative and qualitative intake.