Dietary Patterns of Children Aged 1–3 Years in Poland in Two Population Studies

Abstract

Background: The levels of nutrition that children receive in their first years of life greatly determine their psychosomatic development. Aim: The study was to identify dietary patterns of children aged 1–3 years based on data on food consumption structure from 2 population studies performed in Poland (2011 and 2016) and to assess changes in product selection in the children’s diets with respect to their nutritional status. Methods: Both studies were performed on nationwide representative samples (2011: n = 400; 2016: n = 612) using questionnaire surveys. Nutritional status was estimated using body weight-to-height z-score. Feeding practices were evaluated based on 3-day dietary/food records, including 1 weekend day. Results: Four dietary patterns of toddlers were identified and changes in the distribution of these patterns in the population after 5 years were analysed and compared. Diets of children in the second year of life were better balanced in terms of energy and nutritional value owing to young child formula content. Diets of children in the third year of life were higher in energy and protein, with a higher percentage of energy derived from saccharose. Diets of all groups of children were deficient in long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin D and potassium but excessive in sodium. Conclusions: Over 5 years, the percentage of children on a diet with high intake of formula for young children significantly decreased but increased on a diet with high dairy content. Dietary patterns of toddlers were associated with their weight by height z score and nutrient profile.