Consumption of Total Fruit, Vegetables, Whole Grains, and Added Sugars in Those <24 Months of Age from NHANES, 2001–2012

Abstract

Infant nutrition and that of early childhood are important for growth and development and nutrition practices learned at this age may influence life‐long intake. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the pattern of intake of total fruits, total vegetables, whole grains, and added sugars in those <24 months of age using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2001–2012 (n=4,406). Using the USDA Food Patterns Equivalent Database (FPED) we determined amount and food sources of total fruits, total vegetables, whole grains, and added sugars in subjects 0–2 (n=655), 3–5 (n=692), 6–8 (n=664), 9–11 (n‐679), 12–14 (n=426), 15–17 (n=442 ), 18–21 (n=422), 21–23 (n=425) months (mths) of age. Total vegetables increased from virtually nothing at 0–2 mths to about 0.5 cup equivalents (eq) at 9–11 mths but only increased to 0.6 cup eq at 21–23 mths (Table 1). Total fruit intake increase from virtually nothing at 0–2 mths to 0.94 cup eq at 9–11 mths and increased to 1.44 cup eq at 21–23 mths (Table 1). At 6–8 mths whole grain intake was 0.32 oz eq but only increased to 0.44 oz eq at 21–23 mths. Added sugars rose from virtually nothing at 0–2 mths to about 2.4 tsp eq at 9–11 mths and continued to increase until at 21–23 mths added sugars intake was 9.2 tsp eq (Table 1). Up to 9–11 mths the sources of vegetables was predominantly baby foods; thereafter a large number of other foods were providing vegetables to the diet. For fruits, baby food and baby juice were predominant sources until 6–8 mths where other fruits and juices were beginning to be consumed in small quantities; by 9–11 mths there were even more different fruit and juices providing fruit to the diet and this variety was maintained through 21–23 mths. Before 9 mths whole grains sources were predominantly baby food cereals; at 9–11 mths other sources included lower sugar ready‐to‐eat cereals, yeast bread, and oatmeal. These sources were maintained through 21–23 mths but a larger variety of other foods provided small amounts of whole grains. At 9–11 mths small amounts of added sugars were appearing from fruit drinks, cookies and brownies, yogurt, and higher sugar ready‐to‐eat cereals. These sources were main contributors of added sugar in older groups and many more sources of added sugars appeared in the diet (at 21–23 mths the foods providing more than 5% of added sugars in the diet were fruit drinks, cookies and brownies, soft drinks, and higher sugar ready‐to‐eat cereals). These data indicate there are opportunities to improve the diet of children <24 mths by providing more vegetables, whole grains, maintaining or even increasing fruit intake, and moderating added sugars from less nutrient dense options.Support or Funding InformationFunding provided by Beech‐Nut Nutrition Company.