Increasing the Energy and Nutrient Density of the Home‐Delivered Lunch Meal Improves 24‐Hour Dietary Intakes in Older Adults

TL;DRAbstract

As food intake declines with aging, older adults develop energy and nutrient inadequacies. It is important to design practical approaches to combat insufficient dietary intakes to decrease risk for acute and chronic diseases, illness and injury. This is the first study to determine the effects of enhancing the energy and protein density of the regular home‐delivered lunch meal (HDM) on meal and 24‐hour dietary intakes. We manipulated the nutrient density of vegetable and starch items served in the HDM by reducing water contents, altering ingredient proportions or substituting ingredients higher in calories, protein and key micronutrients. The type and gram weight of food items was held constant. In a randomized crossover counterbalanced design, 45 adults aged 67–106 years received weighed versions of the regular and enhanced HDM on subsequent weeks. Breakfast and dinner intakes were assessed by diet recall. There were no interaction effects on lunch or 24‐hour intakes by age, gender, B

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