The Diets of Young Children

Abstract

A dietary survey was conducted on 461 children, from 6 months to 4 years of age. Average daily caloric intake increased from 1080 calories for children under 1 year to 1730 calories for those aged 4 years. Corresponding figures for protein were 38 and 51 g; for fat, 46 and 76 g; Fe, 6.7 and 9.0 mg; vitamin A, 2160 and 2380 I.U.; thiamine, 0.58 and 0.77 mg; nicotinic acid, 2.7 and 6.6 mg; ribo-flavin, 1.18 and 1.03 mg; ascorbic acid, 14.2 and 28.2 mg. Generally speaking, the intake of calories and nutrients tended to be higher for children belonging to larger families and to low-income groups. Body weight figures were not available, so this higher consumption might be related to increased body size.