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Foods, nutrients and portions consumed by a sample of Australian children aged 16–24 months
Author(s) -
WEBB Karen,
RUTISHAUSER Ingrid,
KNEZEVIC Natalia
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
nutrition and dietetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.479
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1747-0080
pISSN - 1446-6368
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-0080.2007.00224.x
Subject(s) - micronutrient , medicine , nutrient , environmental health , vitamin , dietary reference intake , vitamin d and neurology , food science , pediatrics , biology , ecology , pathology , endocrinology
Aim: To describe the diet of a sample of Australian children aged 16–24 months with regard to the amounts of foods and nutrients consumed. Methods: Cross‐sectional data collected from participants in a five‐year randomised trial of the primary prevention of asthma. Pregnant women with a family history of atopy were recruited from six hospital antenatal clinics in western Sydney. At the 18‐month assessment, carers of 429 of children completed three‐day weighed food records. Three‐day average intakes of foods and nutrients and average portions per eating occasion for commonly consumed foods. T ‐tests for comparing gender differences. Results: Diets were characterised by large amounts of milk and non‐milk drinks with smaller amounts of cereals, fruits, vegetables and meats. Total energy intake was significantly higher for boys than girls and exceeded estimated energy requirements in both boys and girls. Food groups contributing most to energy included milk and milk products (35%), cereals (15%), cereal‐based products (9%) and non‐milk drinks (8%). Micronutrient intakes were below the Estimated Average Requirement in more than 5% of the children for vitamin A, calcium, vitamin C and iron. Sodium intakes exceeded the upper level of 1000 mg for 62% of children, while dietary fibre intake was only half the Adequate Intake of 14 g. Relatively few foods were widely consumed and median portion sizes were typically small in relation to commonly used reference portion sizes. Conclusion: These data may be useful as a preliminary basis for developing age‐specific dietary surveillance tools and dietary guidance for children aged one to two years.