Abstract
Early dietary patterns can have long-term health consequences. This study describes food consumption patterns among US children ≤23 months. We used one 24 h dietary recall from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2014 to estimate the percentage of children ≤23 months who consumed selected food/beverage categories on any given day by age and race/Hispanic origin. Among 0 to 5 month olds, 42.9% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 37.0%, 49.1%) consumed breast milk, with non-Hispanic blacks less likely (21.2%, 95% CI: 13.2%, 32.2%) compared with non-Hispanic whites (49.0%, 95% CI: 39.0%, 59.1%) (p < 0.001). The percentage of children consuming vegetables was 57.4%, 48.2%, and 45.1% for ages 6 to 11, 12 to 18 and 19 to 23 months, respectively (p < 0.01 for trend). The percentage of children consuming sugar-sweetened beverages was 6.6%, 31.8% and 38.3% for ages 6 to 11, 12 to 18 and 19 to 23 months, respectively (p < 0.01 for trend). Among children aged ≥6 months, lower percentages of non-Hispanic black and Hispanic children consumed vegetables, and higher percentages consumed sugar-sweetened beverages and 100% juice compared with non-Hispanic white children, although differences were not always statistically significant. Compared with children in the second year of life, a higher percentage of children 6 to 11 months of age consumed vegetables and a lower percentage consumed 100% juice, sugar-sweetened beverages, snacks, or sweets; with differences by race/Hispanic origin. These data may be relevant to the upcoming 2020–2025 federal dietary guidelines.
Highlights
The first two years of a child’s life are an important time period for introducing and establishing healthy eating patterns through encouraging selected foods/beverage types such as breast milk, fruits, and vegetables that provide a variety of flavors; while limiting the consumption of foods that may contribute to consumption of high calories and low nutrient density foods/beverages [1]
The objective of this study is to describe the consumption of selected food and beverage categories among a nationally representative sample of U.S infant and toddlers from birth through 23 months of age, by age and race/Hispanic origin
Siega-Riz et al report that among children in Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) 2008, 42.2% of infants from four to 5.9 months of age consumed breast milk, and 65.3% consumed formula [8]. This is comparable to estimates we found in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2014: 42.9% consumed breast milk and 70.5% consumed formula, respectively, among infants aged zero to five months
Summary
The first two years of a child’s life are an important time period for introducing and establishing healthy eating patterns through encouraging selected foods/beverage types such as breast milk, fruits, and vegetables that provide a variety of flavors; while limiting the consumption of foods that may contribute to consumption of high calories and low nutrient density foods/beverages [1]. Research has indicated that children who were breastfed were more likely to have a number of healthier dietary behaviors at six years of age [2]. The U.S Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015–2020 are intended for the U.S population from ages two and older, and provide guidance on healthy dietary eating patterns [4].
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