Effect of income and geographic region on the nutritional value of diets in Brazil.

The nutritional quality of dietary patterns in Brazil was examined as influenced by income level, region, and urbanization by calculating nutrient to calorie ratios and amino acid scores. In general, income level had only a minor influence on diet quality. Riboflavin and calcium were generally low in the low income groups in all regions, especially in urban areas. Thiamin intake was marginal in urban areas at all income levels. Protein quality appeared to be relatively independent of income, with two exceptions. These were the dietary patterns of the lowest income groups in the rural Northeast and the City of Sao Paulo which were somewhat limiting in methionine and lysine, respectively. In contrast, the total availability of calories and protein was greatly dependent on income and the lowest income families were seriously short of food. Income, therefore, appeared to be more important in determining the total amount of food available to a family in Brazil than in affecting the nutritional quality of the diet.

Alternate lunch patterns in high schools. I. Labor requirements and meal costs.

Meal costs were compared in forty-eight high schools as a function of the lunch pattern. The patterns evaluated were: Type A "offer vs. serve," traditional Type A, four food groups (Basic 4), and free choice. Participation in school lunch increased with free choice, resulting in a reduction in labor and total meal costs. Sixteen per cent of foodservice work involved administration, 37 per cent preparation, 16 per cent service, 25 per cent clean-up, and 6 per cent other, which did not vary with the menu pattern.

Alternate lunch patterns in high schools. III. Food acceptability.

Food acceptability was assessed in forty-eight high schools using alternate methods of menu planning for school lunches. The free-choice pattern resulted in a significant reduction of total plate waste, particularly in the vegetable and salad categories. Girls consistently wasted more food than did boys, regardless of menu pattern. Overall plate waste was 7 and 13 per cent of food service for boys and girls, respectively. The data suggest that a free-choice lunch may be effective in reducing plate waste, particularly for poorly consumed menu items.

Menu planning in the Nutrition Program for the Elderly. Modified Nutrient Standard Menu method.

A nutrient standard menu (NSM) planning method was developed for use in planning menus which provided one-third the Recommended Dietary Allowances for persons sixty years of age or older for nine indicator nutrients and calories, while restricting fat to less than 40 per cent of total calories. To eliminate manual calculations and make it easy for individuals untrained in dietetics or nutrition to use NSM planning, the nutrient composition of over a thousand commonly used menu items was listed in a menu planning manual in nutrient units which were one-tenth of the nutrient standard for the meal. Menus from third-party sources were monitored by selecting similar nutritionally analyzed menu items in the manual and adjusting the nutrient composition to conform to the portions actually served. Ten site managers of the Administration on Aging (AoA) evaluated the planning/monitoring method. The members of the group, on the average, were fifty-six years of age, had 1.6 years of education beyond high school, and had 4.6 years of foodservice experience. Approximately 83 per cent of the evaluators did not plan to monitor menus at their sites and had no formal training in dietetics or nutrition. Eighty-four per cent were able to plan menus satisfactorily after this brief introduction. The younger evaluators with more education grasped the concepts faster and were able to plan menus with greater accuracy. The data also indicated that previous experience in menu planning enhanced their ability to plan NSMs. Most felt the approach to be workable and applicable. Menu monitoring was more difficult for the evaluators. Seventy-five per cent were able to monitor menus satisfactorily, and all felt they could do so with more time. The data again showed that the younger individuals having more formal education were able to master the monitoring skills more easily.

Alternate lunch patterns in high schools. IV. Nutritive value.

The nutritive value of lunches in forty-eight high schools was assessed using alternate methods of menu planning. Using Type A, Basic 4, and free-choice patterns, the nutrient levels in lunches consumed were not significantly different from those of lunches using the Type A "offer vs. serve" pattern. For boys, lunches as consumed were significantly below the goals for calories, thiamin, and iron in all groups. For girls, lunches as consumed were significantly below the goal only for iron.

Comparison of Type A and nutrient standard menus for school lunch. I. Development of the nutrient standard method (NSM).

Methodology was developed for planning school lunch menus which meet a specific nutrient standard. The method considered nine indicator nutrients plus calories and percentage of calories coming from fat. The nutrient composition of approximately 625 school lunch menu items were calculated using Agriculture Handbook No. 8 data. All nutrient data were converted to bead units which were summed on an abacus until the meal requirements were met. Preliminary testing of the method showed it to be usable by school lunch menu planners and provided menus meeting certain minimal nutrient constraints. After the test, suggested modifications were incorporated into the method to enhance its use. The method is described and a sample week's given.

Comparison of Type A and nutrient standard menus for school lunch. II. Management aspects.

An extensive study compared school lunches planned to meet a specific nutrient standard (NSM) with those planned according to the Type A pattern. Average daily participation, food and labor costs, accuracy of the menus, and differences in the four-week menus between the two methods are reported. Twenty-nine menu planners representing a variety of living environments quickly learned the NSM method and enthusiastically planned and served the Type A and NSM test menus to fifth and tenth grade students. Type A data were collected in the fall and NSM data in the spring of the 1972-73 academic year. Changing from Type A to NSM menu planning resulted in no significant change in lunch participation or food and labor costs. Work functions also did not vary significantly when the menu planning method was changed. Menu planners of varying education and experience successfully planned accurate NSM menus and endorsed the method as an exciting and viable alternative to the Type A pattern. Sixty per cent preferred NSM due to its nutrient assurance, flexibility, and potential for nutrition education.

Comparison of Type A and nutrient standard menus for school lunch. III. Nutritive content of menus and acceptability.

The caclulated nutritional value of school lunches for fifth and tenth grade students planned according to the Type A pattern and a nutrient standard (NSM) WEre compared on the basis of meals as planned, served, and eaten. On an "as eaten" basis, menus planned by both methods were low in calories, iron, and thiamin. Although the differences were small, the NSM menus were consistently higher in nutrients, including calories, iron, and thiamin, and lower in percentage of calories coming from fat. The number of schools where the lunches, on the average, furnished less than 60 per cent of the standard for calories, iron, and thiamin was significantly less for NSM than for Type A. Animportant reason for the higher level of nutrients in NSM menus was that a higher ratio of food planned was actually served. In addition, in the case of iron, a higher nutrient: calorie ratio was observed. Food ratings, as determined in the classroom before the meal, correlated positively with food consumption as determined by plate waste analyses. Milk beverages had the highest ratings and consumption, followed by starches, baked goods, sandwiches, and entrées. Salads and vegetables were rated low and consumed least.