Methodology of a survey on meal patterns in private senior households.

The methodology of a study on meal patterns is discussed. For data collection, menu records on the current diet over two periods of 6 weeks each and an additional self-administered questionnaire on various food related aspects were selected as instruments. Information is required concerning e.g. time, kind and frequency of meals during the day, kind and frequency of dishes consumed and the combination of these. The aim of the study is to obtain information about the nutritional behaviour of the elderly especially on meal patterns. These data are intended as the basis for menu plans reflecting actual nutritional habits in a diet, according to individual requirements, and not for assessing the participants' nutritional status.