Plant-based dairy replacement foods and drinks are not recommended for teenagers due to their nutritional composition, and teenage girls should take folic acid supplements, according to new dietary advice from the food safety watchdog.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) on Monday published the first scientific report outlining food-based dietary guideline recommendations for adolescents aged between 9 and 18 living in Ireland.
The report was commissioned by the Department of Health in recognition of the specific nutritional requirements during puberty, which is believed to be greater than during any other period in life due to intense growth and development.
It also consider sustainability and climate change when making the recommendations.
According to the report, teenagers have high energy requirements but that this varies quite significantly when considering age, sex, body size and physical activity level.
Carbohydrates, which includes cereals and breads, potatoes, pasta, and rice, are the most important food group for fuelling physical activity, with average requirements ranging from 6 to 10 servings and requirements reaching up to 13 servings for some adolescents.
Teenagers should have four servings from the milk, cheese and yoghurt category per day are if they are sedentary to lightly active, but this should increase to five servings per day for moderately to very active adolescents. Low-fat or reduced-fat options should be chosen.
In general, the FSAI said plant-based dairy replacement foods and drinks are not recommended due to their nutritional composition and the need for the addition of calcium and other micronutrients.
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Where plant-based dairy alternatives are required, a calcium-fortified soya beverage represents the best choice for teenage boys, and calcium- and iodine-fortified brands represent the best choice for teenage girls, it added.
A reduction in lean red meat consumption to between one and two times per week did not lead to inadequate iron intakes among teens, and mixing plant-based food protein with animal food protein enhanced the overall quality of protein in a meal.
The watchdog said protein requirements were easily achieved, despite the reduction in the amounts and frequency of meat consumption.
“Protein powders, shakes and supplementary drinks were unnecessary to meet protein goals,” it added.
All women of childbearing age, including adolescents, who can become pregnant should take a 400µg folic acid supplement every day.
The report highlighted concerns about current health trends in teenagers.
A quarter of adolescents are classified as body mass index-defined overweight or obese, it said, adding that significant numbers of teenagers having higher than recommended intakes of saturated fat, free sugars and salt, and significant numbers of teenagers having inadequate intakes of several micronutrients.
Prof Kevin Cashman, chairman of the FSAI Public Health Nutrition Subcommittee during the development of this report, said adolescence was a life stage where nutritional requirements are particularly high.
“Adolescence is a key developmental window of opportunity for nutrition. During this time, children lay down 40 per cent of their bone mass, protecting them from osteoporosis in later life. In addition, they gain 50 per cent of their adult weight and 20 per cent of their adult height,” he said.
“It is important to note that there is a significant variation in nutritional needs among adolescents, including those of the same age. These differences relate to body size, for example tall versus small; physical activity levels, from sedentary to very active; and maturational timing, such as adolescents who are early versus late developers.”