A comparison of food group variety between toddlers with and without cystic fibrosis

Objectives  To compare the food group variety and nutritional adequacy of the diet between toddlers with cystic fibrosis (CF) and age‐matched controls. Subjects  A clinical sample of 22 toddlers with CF (mean age = 21.3 ± 7.2 months) matched to a community sample of 22 healthy peers. Main outcome measures  The variety index for toddlers (VIT) and the mean adequacy ratio (MAR). Results  Fruit group scores were highest for children with CF (0.95 ± 0.13; possible range 0.00–1.00), and dairy group scores were highest for controls (0.90 ± 0.18). All children earned the lowest scores for vegetables (CF: 0.15 ± 0.12; controls: 0.26 ± 0.22). No significant differences were found when comparing VIT and MAR scores by sample ( P  > 0.05). A moderate positive relationship was found between total VIT scores and MAR scores for all children ( r  = 0.38, P  < 0.05). Toddlers with CF did not achieve the 120–150% of Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for energy. Conclusions  Toddlers with CF are consuming diets that are varied and nutritionally adequate for a healthy child. To optimize nutritional status and growth, current recommendations for toddlers with CF to eat a well‐balanced diet and to exceed daily RDA for energy requirements remain key dietary issues.