Assessing dietary intake among infants and toddlers 0–24 months of age in Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Sangita Sharma, Fariba Kolahdooz, Lauren Butler, Nadine Budd, Berenice Rushovich, Galina L Mukhina, Joel Gittelsohn, Benjamin Caballero

OBJECTIVE: To characterize food and nutrient intake and develop a population-specific food list to be used as a comprehensive dietary assessment tool for Baltimore infants and toddlers aged 0--24 months. The data were used to inform the Growing Leaps and Bounds (GLB) program, which promotes early obesity prevention among Baltimore infants and toddlers.Research methods & procedures: A cross-sectional dietary survey using 24-hour recalls among randomly selected primary caregivers of infants and toddlers was conducted. RESULTS: Data were collected from 84 children, (response rate 61%) 45 boys; 39 girls. Mean daily energy intakes were 677 kcal, 988 kcal, and 1,123 kcal for children 0--6 months, 7--12 months and 13--24 months, respectively. Infants 0--6 months had higher percentage of energy from fat (48%) than infants 7--12 months (34%) and 13--24 months (31%). Mean daily intakes for all nutrients among 0--12 months old were >= Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI), while toddlers 13--24 months had inadequate vitamins A, D, and E intake. Breastfeeding occurred in 33% of infants and toddlers 0 to 6 months, while less than 3% of those aged 7 to 24 months were breastfed. A 104-item food list with eight food and drink categories was developed. CONCLUSIONS: Infants were formula fed with a higher frequency than they were breastfed. The consumption of high-sugar and high-fat foods (e.g. sweetened drinks, French fries) increased with each age group, which can increase the risk of childhood obesity.