TABLE 2.
Distribution of energy intake among NOVA food classification categories among participants in the Guelph Family Health Study (n = 365 parents and n = 267 children from 242 families).
| NOVA food classification category | Parent’s energy intake |
Children’s energy intake |
||
| Mean ± SD (kcal/day) | % Total kcal | Mean ± SD (kcal/day) | % Total kcal | |
| Unprocessed or minimally processed foods1 | 643.3 ± 404.6 | 29.1 | 497.9 ± 268.3 | 35.3 |
| Meat and poultry | 86.0 ± 166.3 | 3.9 | 33.8 ± 85.7 | 2.4 |
| Grains and flours | 49.0 ± 106.2 | 2.2 | 33.6 ± 72.7 | 2.4 |
| Fruit and freshly squeezed fruit juices | 114.9 ± 121.3 | 5.2 | 133.3 ± 101.1 | 9.5 |
| Milk and plain yogurt | 54.4 ± 88.8 | 2.5 | 125.8 ± 134.6 | 8.9 |
| Pasta | 64.0 ± 175.3 | 2.9 | 45.0 ± 106.2 | 3.2 |
| Vegetables | 24.8 ± 42.0 | 1.1 | 12.1 ± 20.2 | 0.9 |
| Eggs | 19.1 ± 50.1 | 0.9 | 6.8 ± 23.0 | 0.5 |
| Roots and tubers | 11.0 ± 43.7 | 0.5 | 6.1 ± 17.0 | 0.4 |
| Nuts and seeds | 44.4 ± 115.6 | 2.0 | 9.8 ± 41.6 | 0.7 |
| Fish and seafood | 4.8 ± 31.9 | 0.2 | 3.6 ± 26.9 | 0.3 |
| Legumes | 14.4 ± 65.6 | 0.7 | 7.9 ± 26.9 | 0.6 |
| Un-disaggregated home-made dishes2 | 149.6 ± 190.8 | 6.8 | 79.3 ± 134.5 | 5.6 |
| Other unprocessed/minimally processed foods3 | 6.9 ± 27.2 | 0.3 | 0.9 ± 8.7 | 0.1 |
| Processed culinary ingredients4 | 57.3 ± 114.6 | 2.6 | 29.4 ± 49.4 | 2.1 |
| Plant oils | 8.4 ± 67.1 | 0.4 | 1.6 ± 8.2 | 0.1 |
| Sugars5 | 19.8 ± 41.1 | 0.9 | 15.8 ± 35.7 | 1.1 |
| Animal fats | 26.8 ± 65.5 | 1.2 | 11.7 ± 31.4 | 0.8 |
| Other processed culinary ingredients6 | 2.3 ± 30.2 | 0.1 | 0.4 ± 6.3 | 0.03 |
| Processed foods7 | 531.9 ± 492.1 | 24.0 | 299.6 ± 225.4 | 21.3 |
| Cheese | 103.3 ± 182.1 | 4.7 | 88.1 ± 126.3 | 6.3 |
| Canned fruit, vegetables, other plant foods | 4.0 ± 18.2 | 0.2 | 6.1 ± 20.7 | 0.4 |
| Salted, smoked or canned meat or fish | 31.3 ± 87.8 | 1.4 | 7.3 ± 38.2 | 0.5 |
| Un-disaggregated home-made dishes8 | 233.7 ± 332.8 | 10.6 | 121.4 ± 182.6 | 8.6 |
| Other processed foods9 | 159.5 ± 254.3 | 7.2 | 76.8 ± 115.1 | 5.4 |
| Ultra-processed foods10 | 979.4 ± 662.6 | 44.3 | 581.9 ± 308.1 | 41.3 |
| Pre-prepared/ready-to-eat and frozen dishes11 | 202.0 ± 398.8 | 9.1 | 53.5 ± 131.5 | 3.8 |
| French fries and other potato products12 | 31.2 ± 102.6 | 1.4 | 16.0 ± 53.1 | 1.1 |
| Breads | 146.5 ± 212.7 | 6.6 | 93.8 ± 100.4 | 6.7 |
| Soft drinks and sweetened fruit juices and drinks | 38.0 ± 87.3 | 1.7 | 9.9 ± 35.5 | 0.7 |
| Sweetened milk-based products13 | 66.9 ± 129.0 | 3.0 | 75.1 ± 103.0 | 5.3 |
| Sweet snacks | 89.6 ± 161.9 | 4.1 | 79.5 ± 109.9 | 5.6 |
| Sweet desserts and baked goods | 109.4 ± 233.4 | 4.9 | 51.8 ± 96.1 | 3.7 |
| Sauces and spreads | 84.5 ± 124.3 | 3.8 | 41.6 ± 75.6 | 3.0 |
| Salty snacks | 59.4 ± 120.4 | 2.7 | 51.7 ± 84.3 | 3.7 |
| Reconstituted meat or fish products14 | 34.9 ± 90.7 | 1.6 | 29.6 ± 76.9 | 2.1 |
| Sweetened breakfast cereals | 37.0 ± 99.8 | 1.7 | 29.4 ± 58.5 | 2.1 |
| Other ultra-processed foods15 | 80.2 ± 188.6 | 3.6 | 50.0 ± 106.9 | 3.5 |
| Total | 2211.9 ± 859.5 | 100.0 | 1408.9 ± 381.2 | 100.0 |
The total sample of participants from the GFHS included in this study was n = 365 parents and n = 267 children from 242 families.
1Unprocessed and minimally processed foods defined as naturally occurring, whole and fresh foods that undergo no or minimal industrial processing typically to preserve foods and improve palatability. Examples include vegetables, fruits, nuts, eggs, meat and milk.
2Made with no processed foods, but contain PCI (salts, sugars, and fats); homemade soup, omelet and baked potato.
3Coffee (non−presweetened, non-whitened, and non-flavored), tea (non−presweetened, non-whitened, and non-flavored), yeast, dried fruits (without added sugars) and vegetables.
4Processed culinary ingredients defined as substances that are used in preparation of foods to enhance flavor of meals. Examples include sugars, butter, oils, and salt.
5White and brown sugar, iced sugar, molasses, honey, maple syrup (100%).
6Vinegar, corn starch.
7Processed foods defined as foods that undergo some processing by combining minimally processed or unprocessed foods and processed culinary ingredients and often require minimal preparation. Examples include simple breads, cheese, salted nuts, and canned meat.
8Homemade mixed dishes that are not classifiable in any of the other categories. Made from adding PCI to PFs; home-made pizza with cheese, home-made lasagna.
9Salted, sweetened or oil roasted nuts or seeds, prepared tofu, and dried sweetened fruits (raisin).
10Ultra-processed foods defined as convenient foods that are a result of industrial formulations typically with five or more ingredients plus additives. Examples include Sugary drinks, chips, sweetened milk products, cereals, flavored yogurts and packaged desserts.
11Frozen dishes, burgers, pizzas, sandwiches and other pre-prepared products bought in fast-food outlets.
12Ready-to-eat and frozen French fries, onion rings, hash browns, mash potatoes and other potato products.
13Ice cream, chocolate milk, flavored yogurt, milkshakes.
14Sausages, deli-meats, meat spreads, mass-produced bacon, fish sticks.
15Canned soups, canned mixed dishes, cheese products, fish or seafood imitations, meal replacements, sweeteners, protein shake powder, egg substitutes, coffee whitener, meatless burgers and sausages, other sugared beverages, soy products (meatless patties, soymilk etc.).