The food and meal pattern in the cape peninsula coloured population

A diet survey, using the 24-hour recall method, was conducted in 1982 as part of a cross-sectional study of the prevalence of coronary heart disease risk factors among the so-called coloured population of the Cape Peninsula. Randomly selected male and female respondents between 15 and 64 years of age (n = 976) were interviewed by trained nursing sisters. Dietary data were analysed using the National Research Institute for Nutritional Diseases (NRIND) Food Composition Tables and then evaluated against the Five Basic Food Groups. Intake from the milk group was found to be inadequate, whereas more than the recommended number of portions from the meat group were eaten. Vegetable and fruit consumption was low. Refined cereals were preferred. Breakfast tended to be skimpy and between-meal snacking heavy. Only about one-third of the respondents consumed three meals per day. Without additional cost, food intake could be improved by choosing more vegetables, fruit, milk and unrefined cereals, while cutting down on expensive meats, refined cereals and snacks. © 1988, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.