Dietary Patterns Among Children Birth to 23 Months of Age, NHANES 2009-2014

Abstract

Early dietary patterns can have long-term health consequences. This study describes the dietary patterns among US children < 2 years and consistency with current recommendations including breastfeeding and foods/drinks to encourage or limit. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2014. The proportion of children ≤ 23 months who consumed different food groups and liquids/beverages on any given day by age and race/Hispanic origin were estimated. Among children < 6 months, 42.9% [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 37.0%, 49.1%] consumed breast milk; 70.5% (95% CI: 64.9%, 75.6%) formula; and 21.1% (95% CI: 17.1%, 25.8%) grains on a given day. More than half of children 6 to 11 months (57.4%, 95% CI: 52.0%, 62.6%) consumed a vegetable; whereas, less than half of children in the second year of life did. Compared to children 6 to 11 months, the proportion in the second year of life consuming snacks and sweets more than quadrupled (∼13% vs. ∼60%). Among children ≥ 6 months, non-Hispanic whites were less likely to consume fruits and vegetable and more likely to consume 100% juice and sugar sweetened beverages than non-Hispanic black and Hispanic children. Dietary patterns among children < 2 years differed by age and race/Hispanic origin. Programs and policies could impact the dietary patterns of young children by providing support for mothers to breastfeed as well as ensuring consistent messages from pediatricians and other nutrition support programs on issues like timing of food introduction, important first foods, and food groups to encourage.