Trends in Food Consumption Patterns of US Infants and Toddlers from Feeding Infants and Toddlers Studies (FITS) in 2002, 2008, 2016.

Duffy Duffy,Story Story,Catellier Catellier,Anater Anater,Jacquier Jacquier,Hampton Hampton,Kay Kay

doi:10.3390/nu11112807

Abstract

The Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) is the largest survey of dietary intake among infants and young children in the United States. Dietary patterns in early childhood are a key component of prevention of diet-related chronic diseases, yet little is known about how food consumption patterns of infants and young children have changed over time. The objective of this study is to examine trends in food and beverage consumption among children ages 6–23.9 months using data from the FITS conducted in 2002, 2008, and 2016. A total of 5963 infants and young children ages 6–23.9 months were included in these analyses. Food consumption data were collected using a multiple-pass 24-h recall by telephone using the Nutrition Data System for Research. Linear trends were assessed using the Wald’s test in a multivariable linear regression model. Positive significant findings include increases in breast milk consumption and decreases in the consumption of sweets, sugar-sweetened beverages, and 100% fruit juice. More troubling findings include decreasing infant cereal consumption, stagnant or decreasing whole grain consumption, and stagnant consumption of vegetables. Our findings suggest some promising improvements in dietary intake among infants and toddlers in the United States over the past 15 years, but further policy, programmatic, and industry efforts are still needed.

Highlights

Understanding dietary exposures during different life stages is important among infants and toddlers
This study provides the most recent information on young children’s dietary intake and how intake has changed across three time periods in the past 15 years
Using cross-sectional data from three different Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) (2002, 2008, and 2016), we identified some positive shifts in the diets of infants and young children in the United States, including increases in breastfeeding prevalence and decreases in consumption of 100% juice, sweets, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and desserts; but we identified concerning trends such as decreases in the percent of infants consuming whole grains and stagnation in vegetable intake

Summary

Introduction

Understanding dietary exposures during different life stages is important among infants and toddlers. Infancy and early childhood are critical periods for the development of taste preferences and dietary patterns [1,2,3]. Early dietary behaviors lay the foundation for future dietary patterns with the potential to prevent diet-related chronic disease in later life [4,5,6]. Understanding how infant and young children’s intake aligns with current dietary guidance is of public health importance. Knowledge of trends in dietary intake patterns of infants and young children in the United States can inform policy and programmatic efforts to improve infant and child health. Data on patterns of food and beverage intake are limited for this age group

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Conclusion