Findings from the National Children’s Food Survey II (NCFS) 2017-18

The report details food and nutrient intakes, body weight, physical activity and eating behaviours in children aged 5-12 years in Ireland.

Findings from the National Children’s Food Survey II (NCFS) were presented today in a workshop hosted by the Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance (IUNA). The report details food and nutrient intakes, body weight, physical activity and eating behaviours in children aged 5-12 years in Ireland.

Main findings include:

Average daily dietary fibre intake (14g) was higher than in the NCFS (2003-04), the key contributors to dietary fibre intake were breads, breakfast cereals, fruits, cereal grains and vegetables.
Intake of free sugars was lower than in the NCFS (2003-04), mainly due to a switch in beverage consumption from sugar-sweetened drinks to water.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity was lower than in the NCFS (2003-04), the majority (78%) of children were within the normal weight range.
Intakes of fruit and vegetables are higher than in the NCFS (2003-04), about 3 servings per day, well below the recommended 5-7-a-day.
Essentially all children eat meat; however, more is consumed as processed meat than fresh meat. Chicken was the most popular type of fresh meat consumed, followed by beef.
Average consumption of milk is about one glass per day, mainly as whole milk rather than reduced fat milk.
A total of 69% of children achieved the recommended “at least 60 minutes” of physical activity per day.

Joana Caldeira Fernandes da Silva