An expanded breakfast buffet increases daily energy and protein intakes in hospitalised patients: A prospective crossover quality improvement study.
Clin NutrAug 6, 2026 (epub)
Jakob Højgaard Hundebøll, Faidon Magkos, Irene Wessel et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of an expanded breakfast buffet on daily energy and protein intakes in hospitalized patients. Conducted in a tertiary university hospital with 71 patients, the study found that the expanded buffet increased total daily energy intake by +198 kcal/day and protein intake by +6.8 g/day, without significantly increasing total food weight.
Key findings
- Total daily energy intake increased by +198 kcal/day with the expanded breakfast.
- Protein intake rose by +6.8 g/day compared to standard breakfast.
- Daily energy and protein adequacy improved by +8.7 and +6.8 percentage points, respectively.
- No significant increase in total food weight was observed.
Why it matters
Improving nutritional intake in hospitalized patients is crucial for recovery and overall health. This study suggests that small, targeted changes to meal offerings can enhance energy and protein consumption, potentially leading to better patient outcomes.