Objective: To describe fruit and vegetable intake of 11-year-old children in ten European countries and compare it with current dietary guidelines. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Intake was assessed using a previously validated questionnaire containing a pre-coded 24 h recall and an FFQ which were completed in the classroom. Portion sizes were calculated using a standardized protocol. Setting: Surveys were performed in schools regionally selected in eight countries and nationally representative in two countries. Subjects: A total of 8158 children from 236 schools across Europe participating in the PRO GREENS project. Results: The total mean consumption of fruit and vegetables was between 220 and 345 g/d in the ten participating countries. Mean intakes did not reach the WHO population goal of ≥ 400 g/d in any of the participating countries. Girls had a significantly higher intake of total fruit and vegetables than boys in five of the countries (Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Bulgaria and Slovenia). Mean total fruit intake ranged between 114 and 240 g/d and vegetable intake between 73 and 141 g/d. When using the level ≥ 400 g/d as a cut-off, only 23·5 % (13·8-37·0 %) of the studied children, depending on country and gender, met the WHO recommendation (fruit juice excluded). Conclusions: Fruit and vegetable consumption was below recommended levels among the schoolchildren in all countries and vegetable intake was lower than fruit intake. The survey shows that there is a need for promotional activities to improve fruit and vegetable consumption in this age group. Keywords Fruit and vegetable consumption Children EuropeIt has been recognized for some time that fruit and vegetables (F&V) constitute an essential part of a healthy diet (1)(2)(3) . High consumption of F&V has been associated with a decreased risk of morbidity and mortality from a number of chronic diseases like CHD (4) , stroke (5) , type 2 diabetes (6) and certain cancers (7) . F&V are low in energy

Objective: To investigate average sodium excretion in 24 h urine as a marker for salt intake in the Slovene population. Design: Salt intake was determined by measuring sodium excretion in 24 h urine collected from a representative sample of geographically diverse Slovene adults. Setting: Slovenia. Subjects: A random sample of 600 adults aged 25-65 years was generated from census data. The effective sample yield was 143 people, 42?7 % men and 57?3 % women.Results: Urinary sodium excretion was significantly higher in men (220?9 (SD 86?0) mmol Na/d) than in women (169?8 (SD 73?8) mmol Na/d); t test 5 14?5, P , 0?001. Average salt intake was 11?3 (SD 4?9) g/d, higher in men than in women (13?0 (SD 5?1) v. 9?9 (SD 4?3) g/d, respectively). Average intakes of salt among regions were not significantly different. Salt intake increases slightly with increasing age, but there was no significant correlation between age and salt intake. Salt intake was increased with BMI (r 5 0?384, P , 0?001). Conclusions: Salt intake in Slovene adults, especially in men, exceeds the WHO recommended population nutrient intake goal of 5 g by more than twofold. A national programme for reducing salt intake in Slovenia needs to be implemented through systematic efforts including public education and involving the health-care sector and the food industry. Keywords Salt intake 24 h urine collection Body mass index RegionsIn 2005, thirty-five million people died from chronic diseases worldwide, which represents 60 % of the total number of deaths (fifty-eight million) in that year. Of all deaths from chronic diseases in 2005, 30 % were due to CVD (1) . In Slovenia CVD is the leading cause of death (40 % of all deaths) (2) . There is strong conclusive evidence of the adverse effects of excessive dietary salt intake on blood pressure, and high blood pressure is a risk factor for CVD (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)

Objective: To examine which factors act as mediators between parental educational level and children's fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake in ten European countries. Design: Cross-sectional data were collected in ten European countries participating in the PRO GREENS project (2009). Schoolchildren completed a validated FFQ about their daily F&V intake and filled in a questionnaire about availability of F&V at home, parental facilitation of F&V intake, knowledge of recommendations about F&V intake, self-efficacy to eat F&V and liking for F&V. Parental educational level was determined from a questionnaire given to parents. The associations were examined with multilevel mediation analyses.

Objective: Family meals have been negatively associated with overweight in children, while television (TV) viewing during meals has been associated with a poorer diet.

Objectives: To investigate the food intake of Slovenian adolescents and to compare it with food-based dietary guidelines developed for children and adolescents, named the Optimized Mixed Diet (OMD). The OMD is a useful tool for the evaluation of food intake of adolescents. Design: All adolescents completed an FFQ at a regional health centre; a subgroup also completed a 3 d weighed dietary protocol at home. Setting: This study is a part of the first national representative study on the dietary habits of Slovenian adolescents. Subjects: This cross-sectional study included a representative sample of 2813 Slovenian adolescents entering high school, aged 14-17 years, from all ten geographical regions of Slovenia. Results: The greatest deviations from the recommended intakes of the main food groups in the OMD were significantly lower intakes of (P , 0?001, mean): vegetables (179 and 163 g/d in boys and girls, respectively), bread/cereals (271 and 226 g/d), potatoes/rice/pasta (212 and 163 g/d); in boys also a significantly lower intake of fruits (mean: 321 g/d, P , 0?001) and a significantly higher intake of meat/meat products (mean: 126 g/d, P , 0?001). Additionally, the results show too high intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and too low intakes of fish and plant oils in both genders. Conclusions: The food intake pattern of Slovenian adolescents deviates markedly from a healthy eating pattern. Nutrition education and interventions are needed for Slovenian adolescents.