The dietary habits of 11-12 year-old children in two Tayside secondary schools--comparison with the targets set by the Scottish Diet Report.

: The diets of over 300 children in their first year at two Tayside secondary schools were assessed using a simplified food frequency questionnaire. Results were compared with the recent targets (Scottish Diet Report 1993) set for children for the year 2005. It was estimated that only six (< 2%) of the 331 children achieved all of the first five targets, namely 3-4 portions of vegetables and fruit per day; whole grain or granary bread or cereals twice daily; semi-skimmed milk; fish twice weekly; and meat products less than twice weekly. In addition, less than 5% achieved a Healthy Food Choice score (devised by the authors) commensurate with a healthy diet containing daily fruit and vegetables, semi-skimmed milk, wholemeal or similar bread or cereals, and fish at least once a week.