Variation in food group and nutrient intake with day of the week in an elderly population

The present paper is an analysis of 138 5- or 7-d diet diaries collected from a free-living population of people aged 68-90 years in Norwich. Men had higher intakes than women of energy and most nutrients, but patterns of variation across the week were similar for both sexes. Intakes of meat, meat products, fish and vegetables varied across the week both in frequency and amount eaten, but the other main food groups showed no significant variation. Alcohol was taken more frequently at weekends but the amount did not vary significantly. Intakes of energy, protein and many micronutrients varied significantly with day of the week, with increased intake at weekends, especially of vegetable-derived micronutrients on Sundays, and generally decreased intake on Mondays and Fridays. Nutrient densities of carotene, retinol equivalents, folate, vitamin C, pantothenate and Zn were all highest on Sundays, providing further evidence of variation of diet quality on different days of the week.