Vegetarian and vegan diets are also become more popular with children and adolescents. At the same time, adequate nutrient intake is particularly important in this age group. In a new evaluation of the VeChi Youth Study, the relationship between different dietary patterns in the context of a vegetarian, vegan and omnivorous diet and nutrient intake was therefore analysed. The dietary patterns of the children and adolescents were categorised and correlated with energy and nutrient intake on the basis of the intake of various food groups determined in the 3-day weighing protocol. Favourable dietary patterns with a high micronutrient density were ‘vegetables and fruit’, ‘meat alternatives and potatoes’, ‘vegetables and pulses’, ‘fruit and convenience’ and ‘flexitarian’, regardless of the type of diet. In contrast, the dietary patterns ‘animal products’, ‘refined carbohydrates’, ‘meat alternatives and juices’, ‘dairy products’, ‘meat and convenience’ and ‘refined grains and juices’ were associated with a less favourable nutrient profile.
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