Sources of kilocalories and macronutrients in the infant diet

Abstract

Sources of kilocalories in the diet of 270 infants from birth to 1 year were examined. Introduction of beikost was rapid: 27 percent of kilocalories in the diet of 2-month-old infants was provided by foods other than milk or formula. Table foods contributed very little to caloric intakes of children less than 5 months of age. Commercially prepared baby foods were the predominant form of beikost given, except to infants in the 9 to 12 months age group. Use of junior foods steadily increased during the first year; by the age of 9 to 12 months, half of the kilocalories from strained and junior foods were provided by junior foods. Proximate composition of the diet was also examined. With increasing age, contributions of protein and carbohydrate to infants' caloric intake were larger and the contribution of fat was lower. Although average percentages of kilocalories from protein, fat, and carbohydrate fell within specified guidelines, proximate composition of the diet of various groups of infants did not conform to these guidelines. These groups included (a) breast-fed infants given beikost, (b) a subgroup of the children fed cow's milk, (c) infants fed skim milk, and (d) children who received a high percentage of kilocalories from beikost.