Understanding meal patterns: definitions, methodology and impact on nutrient intake and diet quality

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Dietary Assessment
• Public Health Nutrition

Background:

• Nutrition research traditionally focuses on single nutrients or dietary patterns.
• Limited research has explored dietary intake at the meal level.
• Defining and analyzing 'meal patterns' requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on adult meal patterns.
• To examine how meal patterns have been defined in previous studies.
• To assess associations between meal patterns, nutrient intake, and diet quality.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a narrative literature review.
• Performed a comprehensive search of electronic databases for studies in adults (≥19 years).
• Included studies investigating meal patterns and their association with nutrient intake and/or diet quality.

Main Results:

• Thirty-four studies examined meal patterns and nutrient intake; fourteen studied meal patterns and diet quality.
• Most studies used participant-identified meals but varied in defining meals, snacks, and eating occasions.
• Skipping breakfast showed a consistent inverse association with diet quality; other patterns lacked consistent findings.

Conclusions:

• Different definitions of meals complicate the characterization of meal patterns.
• Standardizing meal definitions is necessary for interpreting existing literature.
• Further research is needed on meal timing and its association with diet quality.