Contribution of away-from-home food to the energy and nutrient intake among Brazilian adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To compare the contribution of different food consumption places to the energy and nutrient intake among Brazilian adolescents. DESIGN: We analysed data from the Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents - ERICA, carried out in 2013-2014. Foods were categorised into thirty-three food groups. Energy, nutrients and food groups were analysed according to home, public and private schools, and other places of foods consumption. Linear regression models were used to test the association between eating away from home and nutrient intake. SETTING: Brazilian public and private schools. PARTICIPANTS: All adolescents who had undergone anthropometric evaluation and provided information through the questionnaires, including the 24-h recall (n 71 740). RESULTS: The main portion of energy intake per day was consumed within the adolescent households (8112·776 kJ (1939 kcal), 95 % CI 1892, 1985). Away-from-home eating was reported by 52 % of students in a given day, but it contributed to only 15 % of total energy intake. This contribution was mainly due to high energy-dense food intake. The percentage contribution of foods consumed at public school and other places was very similar with respect to nutrients. However, food consumption at other places meant less intake of protein, fibre and Fe, in addition to increasing the intake of added sugar and fats. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of food consumption outside the home by adolescents is high, although the main contribution to energy intake occurs at home, and despite the similarity of nutrients consumed in school and restaurants, the latter tends to worsen the nutritional quality of meals.