Changes in potato consumption in different stages of life in Norway.

The aim of this study is to contribute to a better understanding of factors promoting the decline in potato consumption in Norway from the mid-1970s to mid-l990s, as well as with what foods the potatoes have been replaced. The article is based on three surveys, all of them carried out on nation-wide representative samples of the Norwegian population: records of household consumption from 1976 to 1995, N=1000-1500 each year; questionnaire surveys of food frequency from 1986 to 1996, N=3000 every other year; and telephone interviews of yesterday's eating events in 1997, N=1177. The results indicated that it was particularly the young people who lived alone who had dropped eating boiled potatoes. The use frequency increased when there was a partner and it increased even more when there where children in the household. Furthermore, higher socio-economic groups were particularly prone to drop using boiled potatoes, and they had a distinctly different use pattern of alternative staple foods than the others. The data indicated that the potato is more commonly used together with certain foods (fish, carrots and broccoli) than others. Therefore, omitting the potato from the meal may signify other dietary changes than the exchange of staple foods.

Gender differences in opinions and practices with regard to a "healthy diet".

Socio-cultural theories about gender differences with regard to food and health constitute the point of departure for this paper, which is based on data from two representative surveys in the Norwegian population. Both were carried out in the autumn of 1994; the first with 1050, the second with 13 200 respondents above 15 years of age. The surveys included questions on: (1) opinions on food and health related issues; (2) self reported dietary changes during the last 3 years prior to the study; (3) frequency of consumption of selected foods. Gender differences are analysed and related to various socio-economic variables. Such differences, although not as pronounced as expected, were found for most of the aspects studied. The responses from women were less related to socio-economic variables than those of men, both concerning opinions on what constitutes a healthy diet, and frequency of consumption of some foods (vegetables, fruits and dairy products). Gender differences were more pronounced between than within socio-economic groups. In line with theories about women's higher health consciousness, women in general reported dietary changes corresponding to the dietary recommendations, and may also have learned more about health than men through their choice of information sources.

[Iron status and weaning practices among healthy 1-year old infants]. / Jernstatus og kostholdsutvikling hos friske ettåringer.

Iron status and weaning practices were studied in healthy one-year-old Norwegian and immigrant children (from developing countries) attending Fjell Health centre, Drammen. None of the Norwegian children (n = 33) had empty iron stores (serum ferritin < 10 micrograms/l) or iron deficiency anaemia (serum ferritin < 15 micrograms/l and haemoglobin < 11 g/100 ml). Among the immigrant children (n = 37) the prevalences were 14 and 11% respectively. The immigrant children were given infant formula earlier than the Norwegian and drank cow's milk for a longer period of the first year. There were no differences between the groups as regards introduction of infant cereals or other types of foods (vegetables, meat, fish).