Longitudinal Study of Nutrient and Food Intakes of White Preschool Children Aged 24 to 60 Months

Objective: To determine nutrient and food intakes of 72 white preschool children primarily from families of middle and upper socioeconomic status and to compare children\u27s nutrient intakes with current recommendations. Design: Six in-home interviews were conducted with mothers when children were 24 to 60 months old; at each time mothers provided 3 days of dietary information on the child. Children and mothers independently provided information on the child\u27s favorite and least favorite foods at 42 and 54 months. Subjects: Preschool children (24 to 60 months old) participating in a longitudinal study. Statistical analyses: Mean nutrient intakes were compared with the most recent Recommended Dietary Allowances/Adequate Intakes. Differences over time were tested with repeated-measures analysis of variance; gender differences were determined with t tests. Food frequencies (ie, percentage of children consuming specific foods) were determined from dietary recalls and food records. Dietary variety was assessed with the Variety Index for Toddlers or the Variety Index for Children. Results: Means were consistently less than the RDA/AI for energy, zinc, folate, and vitamins D and E. Energy, carbohydrate, and fat intakes were highest (P≤.01) at 60 months. Boys consumed more (P≤.05) protein (10 g), calcium (197 mg), magnesium (35 mg), and pantothenic acid (0.8 mg) at 60 months than did girls. Foods most commonly eaten were fruit drink, carbonated beverages, 2% milk, and french fries. The vegetable group consistently had the lowest variety scores; vegetables also dominated least favorite foods lists. Applications: Parents need to be encouraged to include more sources of zinc, folate, vitamin E, and vitamin D in children\u27s diets. Parents should also encourage their children to eat more vegetables, zinc- and folate-fortified cereals, lean red meats, seafood, vegetable oils, and low-fat milk

Food Texture Preferences in Infants Versus Toddlers

Previous research has demonstrated that newborns are capable of preferentially responding to distinct tastes and food-related odors. However, whether infants are also capable of responding to distinct food textures has not been previously investigated. The present research determined whether food texture preferences differ during two developmental periods, infancy and toddlerhood, and whether experience with textures influenced infants' food preferences. In the present research, infants displayed more negative expressions, negative head movements and negative body movements when presented with more complex textures. In contrast, toddlers showed more positive head and body movements and more eagerness for complex textures. The data also suggest that experience with difficult-to-chew textures can facilitate a preference for a more complex texture. The present research adds to our understanding of early perceptual and discriminatory abilities and their development between infancy and early toddlerhood. In addition, the data highlight the need for food texture variation (within the range of the infants' feeding skills) to satisfy the infants' and toddlers' novelty preferences

Longitudinal Study of Nutrient and Food Intakes of White Preschool Children Aged 24 to 60 Months

Objective: To determine nutrient and food intakes of 72 white preschool children primarily from families of middle and upper socioeconomic status and to compare children\u27s nutrient intakes with current recommendations. Design: Six in-home interviews were conducted with mothers when children were 24 to 60 months old; at each time mothers provided 3 days of dietary information on the child. Children and mothers independently provided information on the child\u27s favorite and least favorite foods at 42 and 54 months. Subjects: Preschool children (24 to 60 months old) participating in a longitudinal study. Statistical analyses: Mean nutrient intakes were compared with the most recent Recommended Dietary Allowances/Adequate Intakes. Differences over time were tested with repeated-measures analysis of variance; gender differences were determined with t tests. Food frequencies (ie, percentage of children consuming specific foods) were determined from dietary recalls and food records. Dietary variety was assessed with the Variety Index for Toddlers or the Variety Index for Children. Results: Means were consistently less than the RDA/AI for energy, zinc, folate, and vitamins D and E. Energy, carbohydrate, and fat intakes were highest (P≤.01) at 60 months. Boys consumed more (P≤.05) protein (10 g), calcium (197 mg), magnesium (35 mg), and pantothenic acid (0.8 mg) at 60 months than did girls. Foods most commonly eaten were fruit drink, carbonated beverages, 2% milk, and french fries. The vegetable group consistently had the lowest variety scores; vegetables also dominated least favorite foods lists. Applications: Parents need to be encouraged to include more sources of zinc, folate, vitamin E, and vitamin D in children\u27s diets. Parents should also encourage their children to eat more vegetables, zinc- and folate-fortified cereals, lean red meats, seafood, vegetable oils, and low-fat milk