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ISSN 0973 - 0958
Food Consumption Patterns of Young Preschoolers
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NUTRITION IN CHILDREN
FOOD CONSUMPTION PATTERNS OF YOUNG PRESCHOOLERS: ARE THEY STARTING OFF ON THE RIGHT PATH?
Source: J Am Diet Assoc. 2010 Dec;110(12 Suppl):S52-9
A healthy diet is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Two of every 10 children aged 2 to 5 years are obese or overweight in US. It has been found that that usual dietary intakes of 2- and 3-yearold children were high in saturated fat and sodium, relative to recommendations, and low in fiber. These dietary patterns are associated with increased risk of chronic disease when adults, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers.
This is a descriptive study to describe the food consumption patterns of randomly collected 1,461 US children aged 2 and 3 years based on a single 24-hour dietary recall collected by telephone.
It was found that at age 24 months, there was a sharp drop in the proportion of children consuming whole milk. Among children aged 21 to 23.9 months, 61% consumed whole milk. This percentage decreased to 34% among children aged 24 to 29.9 months. Among 3-year-olds and above, the proportion consuming whole milk was even lower (27%), and the most commonly consumed type of milk was 2% milk (45%).
About 70% of 2- and 3-year-olds consumed vegetables as a distinct food item at least once in day. French fries and other fried potatoes were the most commonly consumed vegetable. Almost three quarters of children (73%) consumed fruit as a distinct food item at least once in a day, and 59% consumed 100% juice. Fresh fruit was the most commonly consumed type of fruit. About 85% of children consumed some type of sweetened beverage, dessert, sweet, or salty snack in a day. Percentages of children consuming such foods were consistently higher for 3-yearolds than for 2-year olds.
Authors have concluded that parents and caregivers of many young preschoolers are following recommendations to avoid whole milk, limit consumption of fruit juice, and offer whole-grain breakfast cereals. However, the large proportion of children who did not consume any discrete servings of fruits or vegetables in a day and did consume sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts, and salty snacks is cause for concern.
A healthy diet is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Two of every 10 children aged 2 to 5 years are obese or overweight in US. It has been found that that usual dietary intakes of 2- and 3-yearold children were high in saturated fat and sodium, relative to recommendations, and low in fiber. These dietary patterns are associated with increased risk of chronic disease when adults, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers.
This is a descriptive study to describe the food consumption patterns of randomly collected 1,461 US children aged 2 and 3 years based on a single 24-hour dietary recall collected by telephone.
It was found that at age 24 months, there was a sharp drop in the proportion of children consuming whole milk. Among children aged 21 to 23.9 months, 61% consumed whole milk. This percentage decreased to 34% among children aged 24 to 29.9 months. Among 3-year-olds and above, the proportion consuming whole milk was even lower (27%), and the most commonly consumed type of milk was 2% milk (45%).
About 70% of 2- and 3-year-olds consumed vegetables as a distinct food item at least once in day. French fries and other fried potatoes were the most commonly consumed vegetable. Almost three quarters of children (73%) consumed fruit as a distinct food item at least once in a day, and 59% consumed 100% juice. Fresh fruit was the most commonly consumed type of fruit. About 85% of children consumed some type of sweetened beverage, dessert, sweet, or salty snack in a day. Percentages of children consuming such foods were consistently higher for 3-yearolds than for 2-year olds.
Authors have concluded that parents and caregivers of many young preschoolers are following recommendations to avoid whole milk, limit consumption of fruit juice, and offer whole-grain breakfast cereals. However, the large proportion of children who did not consume any discrete servings of fruits or vegetables in a day and did consume sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts, and salty snacks is cause for concern.
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