Early development of dietary patterns: transitions in the contribution of food groups to total energy—Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study, 2008

Abstract

Background: Early dietary patterns are critical to growth and development and play an important role in development of food preferences and habits. The objective of this paper is to describe when different foods enter the diet and how food consumption changes over the period of complementary feeding. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional 24-h dietary recall data from the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) 2008, a nationally representative sample of young children. Data are presented for 7 age groups: 6-8.9 months (n = 249), 9-11. 9 months (n = 256), 12-14.9 months (n = 243), 15-17.9 months (n = 251), 18-20.9 months (n = 219), 21-23. 9 months (n = 212) and 24-47.9 months (n = 1461). Per capita energy was calculated from major food groups and specific types of food within each food group. Results: The predominant source of energy in the infant diet was milk (breast milk and infant formula), contributing 98% of energy at 0-3 months, and 91% at 4-5 months. At 6-8 months, when complementary feeding had begun for most infants, 69% of daily energy was coming from milk, 11% from grains, 6% from fruits, 5% from vegetables and 4% from mixed dishes. The diet then quickly transitioned until at 21-23.9 months, 26% of energy came from milk, with other key sources of energy being grains (17%), mixed dishes (14%), meats (12%) and sweets (12%). The period from 4 to 14 months was the most dynamic period of change regarding the introduction of complementary foods for all food groups, with a slower rate of change between 15 and 24 months. After 24 months, the diet stabilized and included less energy from milk (20%) and vegetables (4%) and more energy from mixed dishes (18%), grains (16%), and sweets (17%), and began to resemble adult diets. Conclusions: Feeding in the first 24 months shapes dietary patterns, and thus provides a critical window of opportunity to shape subsequent dietary patterns and eating habits. Findings from FITS identified high sweet and low vegetable consumption as key issues. Education is needed for health care professionals and parents on feeding during this important period. These findings can be used to support the development of specific and actionable feeding guidance for parents.

Dietary Patterns of Children during the First Year of Life: A Cohort Study <br/>—Dietary Patterns of Children

“…Different from our findings, Reidy et al, [26] in a study conducted in the USA in 2008 and published in 2017, found that most infants consumed appropriate types of milk (breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula) during the first 12 months and the minimum of whole cow's milk being consumed during this period.…”

“They Just Need to Come Down a Little Bit to Your Level”: A Qualitative Study of Parents’ Views and Experiences of Early Life Interventions to Promote Healthy Growth and Associated Behaviours

“…Early life environmental conditions set the foundations for health states in later childhood and adulthood [3]. Eating and physical (in)activity-related habits, behaviours, and patterns are established during the first two years of a child's life [2,4,5], which track into later childhood and young adulthood [6][7][8][9]. Parents play a key role in the healthy growth and development of their children, especially during the early years when children are dependent on them for a range of needs including nutrition and care [10,11].…”

The Use of Added Salt and Sugar in the Diet of Polish and Austrian Toddlers. Associated Factors and Dietary Patterns, Feeding and Maternal Practices

“…Moreover, this time is considered a sensitive period for establishing healthy dietary habits [ 2 ]. Breastfeeding, complementary feeding, parental feeding practices, but also social and family environment, play a crucial role in the development of children’s food preferences, attitudes, and dietary patterns [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. However, children are evolutionarily predisposed to prefer high-energy, sweet and salty foods [ 2 , 5 ], as well as to reject bitter or new food items which may be extremely challenging for parents.…”