Feeding of 10-month-old infants. What problems? What solutions?

The feeding of 279 infants aged 10 months was evaluated by the dietary history method, in Paris health centers for children. The results of this survey, as compared with the recommended dietary allowances of the Centre National de Coordination des Etudes et Recherches sur la Nutrition et l'Alimentation (CNERNA) and of the National Research Council (NRC), showed that nutriment, vitamin and mineral needs are generally covered. However, intakes lower than the recommendations were observed concerning iron in 72% of the children, polyunsaturated fatty acids in 50% and vitamin E in 70%. In other respects, protein and saccharose intakes were high. Feeding of 10 months old children could be easily improved by choosing foods properly, allowing to cover these children's needs and to avoid excesses.