Determination of macronutrients and some essential elements in the slovene military diet

The energy and nutrient values for military nutrition are defined in the nutritional recommendations of the Slovene Armed Forces. In this study 35 daily military diets sampled in the years 2002 and 2005 by the double basket method were analysed, for energy, total fat, protein, dietary fibre and the elements Ca, Mg, Na, P, K, Fe, Zn, Cu, I and Se. The daily diets were collected at different locations in Slovenia. The aim was to establish whether energy value, content of fat, protein, dietary fibre and selected essential elements are in compliance with the nutritional recommendations of the Slovene Armed Forces. The results indicate that daily intake of essential elements from military meals was sufficient, with the exception of Ca and Zn in diets sampled in 2005. The study was the first in Slovenia analysing daily intakes of essential elements in an adult population aged 19–27 years.