Eating habits: what foods do children between 12 and 36 months consume?

OBJECTIVE: to identify toddlers' eating habits. METHOD: a cross-sectional study of quantitative analysis, with a sample of 808 toddlers who attended day care centers in the district of Viseu, Portugal, between November 2018 and September 2019. Data were collected using a questionnaire directed at parents. RESULTS: the prevalence of children who ate six meals a day was 42.8%, and 42.5%, those who ate five meals. It was found that 2.0% of children consumed chocolates, 1.0%, desserts, and 0.4%, carbonated beverages, daily. On average, dairy product (M=5.61; SD=2.62) and meat/fish/egg (M=4.80; SD=3.57) consumption was higher than recommended, while fat (M=0.48; SD=0.40), legume (M=0.49; SD=0.45), vegetable (M=1.18; SD=0.87) and water (M=0 .51; SD=0.29) consumption was lower. CONCLUSIONS: there was a higher or lower consumption than recommended for some foods, highlighting the need to implement nursing intervention programs aimed at promoting healthy eating habits in toddlers and families.

Eating habits: what foods do children between 12 and 36 months consume? / Hábitos alimentarios: ¿qué alimentos consumen los niños de 12 a 36 meses? / Hábitos alimentares: que alimentos consomem as crianças dos 12 aos 36 meses?

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify toddlers' eating habits. Method: a cross-sectional study of quantitative analysis, with a sample of 808 toddlers who attended day care centers in the district of Viseu, Portugal, between November 2018 and September 2019. Data were collected using a questionnaire directed at parents. Results: the prevalence of children who ate six meals a day was 42.8%, and 42.5%, those who ate five meals. It was found that 2.0% of children consumed chocolates, 1.0%, desserts, and 0.4%, carbonated beverages, daily. On average, dairy product (M=5.61; SD=2.62) and meat/fish/egg (M=4.80; SD=3.57) consumption was higher than recommended, while fat (M=0.48; SD=0.40), legume (M=0.49; SD=0.45), vegetable (M=1.18; SD=0.87) and water (M=0 .51; SD=0.29) consumption was lower. Conclusions: there was a higher or lower consumption than recommended for some foods, highlighting the need to implement nursing intervention programs aimed at promoting healthy eating habits in toddlers and families.

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar los hábitos alimentarios de los niños pequeños. Método: estudio transversal con análisis cuantitativo, con una muestra de 808 niños pequeños que asistieron a guarderías en el distrito de Viseu, Portugal, entre noviembre de 2018 y septiembre de 2019. La recopilación de datos utilizó un cuestionario dirigido a los padres. Resultados: la prevalencia de niños que hacían seis comidas al día fue de 42,8%, y de 42,5%, los que hacían cinco comidas. Se encontró que el 2,0% de los niños consumía chocolates, el 1,0% postres dulces y el 0,4% bebidas carbonatadas diariamente. En promedio, el consumo de productos lácteos (M=5,61; DE=2,62) y carne/pescado/huevos (M=4,80; DE=3,57) fue superior al recomendado, mientras que el consumo de grasas (M=0,48; DE=0,40), legumbres (M=0,49; DE=0,45), hortalizas (M=1,18; DE=0,87) y agua (M=0,51; DE=0,29) fue menor. Conclusiones: hubo un consumo superior o inferior al recomendado para algunos alimentos, destacando la necesidad de implementar programas de intervención de enfermería dirigidos a promover hábitos alimentarios saludables en los toddles y las familias.

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar os hábitos alimentares dos toddlers. Método: estudo transversal de análise quantitativa, com amostra de 808 toddlers que frequentavam creches do distrito de Viseu, Portugal, entre novembro de 2018 e setembro de 2019. Realizou-se coleta de dados com um questionário direcionado aos pais. Resultados: a prevalência de crianças que diariamente realizavam seis refeições era de 42,8%, e 42,5%, as que realizavam cinco refeições. Constatou-se que 2,0% das crianças consumia chocolates, 1,0%, sobremesas doces, e 0,4%, bebidas gaseificadas, diariamente. Em média, o consumo de laticínios (M=5,61; DP=2,62) e de carnes/peixes/ovos (M=4,80; DP=3,57) era superior ao recomendado, enquanto o consumo de gorduras (M=0,48; DP=0,40), leguminosas (M=0,49; DP=0,45), vegetais (M=1,18; DP=0,87) e de água (M=0,51; DP=0,29) era inferior. Conclusões: verificou-se um consumo superior ou inferior ao recomendado para alguns alimentos, salientando a necessidade de implementação de programas de intervenção de enfermagem que visam promover hábitos alimentares saudáveis nos toddlers e famílias.