Food consumption of children and adolescents in Germany. Results of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS)

Since dietary behaviour has an essential impact on health, information on food consumption was obtained in the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS). The average food frequency and portion size "in recent weeks" was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. Two versions of the questionnaire, identical in content, exist: one aimed at parents of 1-10-year-olds and the other directly at 11-17-year-olds. The results include data on 7,186 boys and 6,919 girls, aged 3-17. About half of the participants each consume bread, milk and fresh fruits every day. The majority (about three quarter) eat fast food only once a month or less. However, 16% of the participants eat chocolate, and almost 20% other sweets every day. More boys than girls individually consume soft drinks, milk, dairy products, meat, sausage, cereals and white bread every day. More girls consume fresh fruits and raw vegetables each day. With increasing age the proportion of daily consumers of soft drinks, cheese (and among boys also meat and sausage) increases, but the proportion of daily consumers of juices, tap water, milk, dairy products, fresh fruits, raw vegetables, cookies, chocolate, sweets (and among girls also breakfast cereals) falls. As expected the consumption of sweets and soft drinks is relatively high. Whereas more than half of the children each consume fruits and vegetables on a daily base, this consumption declines with increasing age.