Food and beverage intake in Australian children aged 12-16 months participating in the NOURISH and SAIDI studies.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the quantity and diversity of food and beverage intake in Australian children aged 12-16 months and to determine if the amount and type of milk intake is associated with dietary diversity.


METHODS
Mothers participating in the NOURISH and South Australian Infant Dietary Intake (SAIDI) studies completed a single 24-hour recall of their child's food intake, when children (n=551) were aged 12-16 months. The relationship between dietary diversity and intake of cow's milk, formula or breastmilk was examined using one-way ANOVA.


RESULTS
Dairy and cereal were the most commonly consumed food groups and the greatest contributors to daily energy intake. Most children ate fruit (87%) and vegetables (77%) on the day of the 24-hour recall while 91% ate discretionary items. Half the sample ate less than 30 g of meat/alternatives. A quarter of the children were breastfeeding while formula was consumed by 32% of the sample, providing 29% of daily energy intake. Lower dietary diversity was associated with increased formula intake.


CONCLUSIONS
The quality of dietary intake in this group of young children is highly variable. Most toddlers were consuming a diverse diet, though almost all ate discretionary items. The amount and type of meat/alternatives consumed was poor.


IMPLICATIONS
Health professionals should advise parents to offer iron-rich foods, while limiting discretionary choices and use of formula at an age critical in the development of long-term food preferences.
['Byrne|Rebecca|R|', 'Magarey|Anthea|A|', 'Daniels|Lynne|L|']
D000704:Analysis of Variance D001315:Australia D001628:Beverages D001942:Breast Feeding D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D004032:Diet D015930:Diet Records D004034:Diet Surveys D005260:Female D005502:Food D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D007225:Infant Food D041943:Infant Formula D008297:Male
intake diversity formula breastfeeding toddler