Compared to other ages in life, the first three years of life are periods of rapid growth. There is increased energy requirement and micronutrient demand to achieve optimum growth.

While fetal growth is influenced by maternal nutrition and health; genetic factors, maternal infections, parity also have a role on the fetal growth. However in infants and preschoolers, dietary inadequacy affects child development. Inadequate micronutrient intake and energy deficient food affects growth (1).

An "Adequate diet" for children is one that contains an appropriate density of nutrients, is sufficiently diverse that it supplies adequate but not excessive amounts of nutrients, in palatable and culturally acceptable, affordable and available year-round and overall supports, normal growth and development (2). The energy intake of a child depends on the number and energy content of meals. It has been estimated that at 1 to 2 years of age, a child probably needs about 3-4 meals per day with energy content being 1 kcal/g for 3 meals/day and 0.74 kcal/gm for 4 meals per day (3). However, children often eat a calorie insufficient food due to inadequate energy content as well as inadequate amount of food consumed. Also intake of micro-nutrients is inadequate especially the B vitamins, iron, zinc, calcium and vitamin A (3) pointing to the need of iron-fortified food or micronutrient fortified food.

It has been found that while energy supplements tend to increase body weight, they do not do so for length (4). In a study in Gambian children with stunting it has been found that supplementing with high calorie food has no effect on length and indicating importance of other nutrients in food (5). In preschoolers, intake of animal source food is also less which is accompanied by low intakes of vitamins,minerals and a high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies (1). Inadequate micronutrient deficiency can affect subsequent cognitive scores (6). Thus, animal source foods also play an important role in determining a child?s nutritional status and development.

In a study from Haryana it was found that in children from 3-4 years of age had a lower intake of iron and vitamin C and had micronutrient deficiency (7). Similar reports have been reported in Greece (8), USA (9). It has been found that this micronutrient deficiency was related to low vegetable intake (8,9) and grains, fruits and dairy products (9).

With rapid urbanization, dietary habits have drastically changed. From a staple diet of cereals and grains, diet has changed to readymade processed foods (chips, wafers) that have high saturated fat content and low micronutrients. Thus, dual nutritional inadequacy occurs - underweight with micronutrient deficiency or overweight with micronutrient deficiency.

Healthy eating and life style practices are essential. Awareness about balanced diet micronutrient rich food is essential. YOUNG HAVE TO EAT HEALTHY. Preschoolers should eat at least 4-5 meals a day with emphasis on fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulses and dairy and dairy products. The greater the variety of foods, the better. Since a child?s stomach is smaller than an adult, so the child needs to eat frequently to achieve the energy and body building demands. Fortified food with vitamin A, iron and iodine helps to achieve adequate levels in these children and to protect their physical and mental abilities. Consumption of adequate amounts of essential fatty acids particularly arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is particularly important for brain development (10).

A balanced healthy, diverse diet rich in micronutrients with adequate calories and proteins is essential in preschoolers especially since breast milk ceases to be the main source of nutrition.

1.		Calloway DH, Murphy SP, Beaton GH, Lein D. Estimated vitamin intakes of toddlers: predicted prevalence of inadequacy in village populations in Egypt, Kenya, and Mexico. Am J Clin Nutr. 1993; 58: 376-384.
2.		Allen LH. Causes of Nutrition-related Public Health Problems of Preschool Children : Available diet. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2006;43 Suppl 3: S8-S12.
3.		Brown K, Peerson J, Kimmons J et al. Options for achieving adequate intake from home - prepared complementary foods in low income countries. In: Public Health Issues in Infant and Child Nutrition. Eds: Black R, Michaelsen K. Philadelphia. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins;2002:239-256.
4.		Dagnelie PC, van Dusseldorp M, van Staveren WA, Hautvast JG. Effects of macrobiotic diets on linear growth in infants and children until 10 years of age. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1994; 48 Suppl 1: S103-111
5.		Krahenbuhl JD, Schutz Y, Jequier E. High fat versus high carbohydrate nutritional supplementation: a one year trial in stunted rural Gambian children. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1998; 52: 213-222
6.		Sigman M, McDonald MA, Neumann C, Bwibo N. Prediction of cognitive competence in Kenyan children from Toddler nutrition, family characteristics and abilities. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1991; 32: 307-320.
7.		Manu, Khetarpaul N. Gender differences in food consumption pattern and nutrient intake of indian pre-school children (3-4 years) in Haryana State. Nutr Health. 2006; 18: 141-149
8.		Manios Y, Kourlaba G, Kondaki K, et al. Diet quality of preschoolers in Greece based on the Healthy Eating Index: the GENESIS study. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009; 109: 616-623.
9.		Kranz S, Findeis JL, Shrestha SS. Use of the Revised Children's Diet Quality Index to assess preschooler's diet quality, its sociodemographic predictors, and its association with body weight status. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2008; 84: 26-34.
10.		Fats oils in human nutrition. Available on URL http://www.fao.ong. Accessed on 12/3/2008.