Abstract
In recent years, ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC) has become a common breakfast option in Canada and worldwide. This study used the nationally representative cross-sectional data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2015-Nutrition to determine patterns of RTEC consumption in Canada and the contribution to nutrient intake among Canadians who were ≥2 years, of whom 22 ± 0.6% consumed RTEC on any given day. The prevalence of RTEC consumption was highest in children aged two to 12 years (37.6 ± 1.2%), followed by adolescents aged 13 to 18 years (28.8 ± 1.4%), and then by adults ≥19 years (18.9 ± 0.6%). RTEC consumers had higher intakes of “nutrients to encourage” compared to the RTEC non-consumers. More than 15% of the daily intake of some nutrients, such as folic acid, iron, thiamin, and vitamin B6, were contributed by RTEC. It was noted that nearly 66% of milk consumption was co-consumed with RTEC among RTEC consumers. The nutrient density of the diet, as defined by Nutrient-Rich Food Index (NRF 9.3), was significantly higher among RTEC consumers compared to non-consumers. RTEC consumption was not associated with overweight/obesity. RTEC consumption considerably contributed to the intake of some key nutrients among all age groups in Canada.
Highlights
In recent years, Canada has seen significant changes in dietary patterns, with more Canadians consuming diets that are excessive in energy intake but inadequate in nutrients and key food groups including fruit, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and fiber [1,2]
It had been found that ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC) consumers, compared to non-consumers, had higher daily intakes of key micronutrients including vitamin B12, B6, folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorous, which are considered as shortfall nutrients [19]
We found that there was no significant differences between body mass index (BMI) among RTEC consumers and non-consumers
Summary
Canada has seen significant changes in dietary patterns, with more Canadians consuming diets that are excessive in energy intake but inadequate in nutrients and key food groups including fruit, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and fiber [1,2]. Poor dietary habits may contribute to an increased risk of overweight or obesity and other chronic diseases among children and adults [3]. Overweight/obesity is of increasing public health concern in Canada with the rates of 23% and 54%. In adolescents and adults, respectively [4]. These differences in rates may be attributed to some factors, including socioeconomic status and lifestyle behaviors, such as dietary intakes, eating habits, and physical activity. Ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC) is a popular breakfast option in many countries, including Canada, and the majority of RTEC consumption occurs at breakfast. RTECs are defined as any processed cereal that can be eaten without further preparation [5].
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