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Development of dietary patterns in very young children: food sources of energy (252.3)
Author(s) -
Reidy Kathleen,
Deming Denise,
Fox Mary Kay,
Briefel Ronette
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.252.3
Subject(s) - calorie , environmental health , medicine , food group , demography , energy density , pediatrics , physics , sociology , theoretical physics , endocrinology
Data from the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) 2008, a national survey of young children, were analyzed to understand the development of dietary patterns in infants, toddlers and preschoolers, focusing on food sources of energy and key nutrients. Twenty four hour dietary recalls were conducted by telephone with parents or primary caregivers of 3200 children age 0‐4 years. The diet transitions during this period from an all milk diet, with milks representing 98% en in the youngest age group ( 0‐3 months) to 15‐17% en by ages 2‐4 years, when children have transitioned to the family table. Data show that problematic dietary patterns, that are quite high in sweets (15% en) and grains (32% en) and low in fruits (7% en) and vegetables (4% en) develop rapidly starting in infancy and are fairly set as early as age 2. Further analysis shows that discretionary calories, energy from solid fats and added sugars, in 2‐4 year olds is 408 calories, more than one third of total energy intake. With over 10% of children ages 2‐5 already obese, it is critically important to lay the foundation for healthful dietary patterns very early in childhood, when eating habits and food preferences are being formed. Grant Funding Source : Supported by Nestle Infant Nutrition