Abstract
This study aims to identify major food sources of energy and macronutrients among Flemish preschoolers as a basis for evaluating dietary guidelines. Three-day estimated diet records were collected from a representative sample of 696 Flemish preschoolers (2.5-6.5 years old; participation response rate: 50%). For 11 dietary constituents, the contribution of 57 food groups was computed by summing the amount provided by the food group for all individuals divided by the total intake of the respective nutrient for all individuals. Bread (12%), sweet snacks (12%), milk (6%), flavoured milk drinks (9%), and meat products (6%) were the top five energy contributors. Sweet snacks were among the top contributors to energy, total fat, all fatty acids, cholesterol, and complex and simple carbohydrates. Fruit juices and flavoured milk drinks are the main contributors to simple carbohydrates (respectively 14% and 18%). All principal food groups like water, bread and cereals, vegetables, fruit, milk and spreadable fats were under-consumed by more than 30% of the population, while the food groups that were over-consumed consisted only of low nutritious and high energy dense foods (sweet snacks, sugared drinks, fried potatoes, sauces and sweet spreads). From the major food sources and gaps in nutrient and food intakes, some recommendations to pursue the nutritional goals could be drawn: the intake of sweet snacks and sugar-rich drinks (incl. fruit juices) should be discouraged, while consumption of fruits, vegetables, water, bread and margarine on bread should be encouraged.
Highlights
The diet in childhood is of great importance for the well-being and growth of the child, it is a potential determinant of adult morbidity and mortality [1,2]
Some important gaps in the diet of Flemish preschoolers have been identified in the past and have already been discussed in depth by comparing nutrient and food intakes of Flemish preschoolers with respectively the Belgian age-specific recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for nutrients [3] and the Flemish food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) for preschoolers in Flanders [4]
When comparing the food group intakes among preschoolers in Flanders with the Flemish Food Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) (Table 1), we found that for almost all food groups more than half of the children did not reach the minimum recommendations
Summary
The diet in childhood is of great importance for the well-being and growth of the child, it is a potential determinant of adult morbidity and mortality [1,2]. Some important gaps in the diet of Flemish preschoolers have been identified in the past and have already been discussed in depth by comparing nutrient and food intakes of Flemish preschoolers with respectively the Belgian age-specific recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for nutrients [3] and the Flemish food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) for preschoolers in Flanders [4]. More than half of the children did not comply with the water recommendation. The diet of Flemish preschoolers can be an important target for modifying the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in later life [3]. When comparing the food group intakes among preschoolers in Flanders with the Flemish FBDG (Table 1), we found that for almost all food groups more than half of the children did not reach the minimum recommendations. The consumption of meat products and sugar and fat-rich products like soft drinks and biscuits exceeded the upper levels of the recommendations [4]
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