Longitudinal study of the feeding of children of 10 months, 2 and 4 years of age

A longitudinal study of feeding habits in children aged 10 months, 2 years and 4 years was undertaken in 2 health centers for children in the Paris area. The evolution of the feeding of the same children was studied according to age and the nutritional intakes were compared with the recommended dietary allowances of the Centre National de Coordination des Etudes et Recherches sur la Nutrition et l'Alimentation (CNERNA). The results show that there are excesses and insufficiencies common or specific to the 3 ages. High protein and saccharose or sugar supplemented diets were observed at ages 10 months, 2 and 4 years as it was for lipids at age 4 years. Insufficient intakes of iron, essential fatty acids and vitamin E were present at the 3 ages studied. Insufficient zinc and vitamin B1 intakes were found since age 2 years, and insufficient folic acid and vitamin B6 at 4 years. The energy intakes increased between 10 months and 4 years, especially between 10 months and 2 years, where mean increase was twice as important as between 2 and 4 years. Some children received decreasing intakes: 6% ate less at 2 years than at 10 months and 22% less at 4 years than at 2 years. The quantities of aliments taken increased with age except for some aliments such as vegetables, potatoes and fruit. On the basis of the observation of the evolution of children's behavior, one could propose dietary advices, in order to improve the problems described here.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)