EARLY-CHILDHOOD FEEDING PRACTICES IN SOUTHERN ITALY - IS THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET BECOMING OBSOLETE - STUDY OF 450 CHILDREN AGED 6-32 MONTHS IN CAMPANIA, ITALY

With increasing affluence, the traditional food choices of Mediterrane an populations are changing. The changes appear to begin in early infa ncy with increased consumption of processed foods. To determine curren t consumption patterns of the diets of 450 toddlers, 6-32 months old, enrolled from 17 paediatric practices in the Campania region of Italy, quantitative data were collected for 7 d, using calibrated feeding bo ttles, cups and dishes, Automated food analysis was employed and quali ty control was performed on a sub-sample. The average daily intake was 373 kJ/kg. Forty-three percent of energy was provided by carbohydrate s, while fats supplied 39%, 45% of fats were saturated and 46.7% were monosaturated (primarily olive oil). Proteins provided 18% of daily en ergy; most (81.4%) were of animal origin. Fibre was virtually absent f rom the study children's diet. Total daily cholesterol reached an aver age value of 191 mg/d, corresponding to 201 mg/4.2 mi. The intake per kg of cholesterol increased with age in the first year, while proteins and fats decreased, Dairy products were the main source of energy, Bt s and cholesterol. Vegetables and legumes were a minor source of energ y at all ages: the consumption of fruit decreased with age. Although t he overall pattern of feeding of this cohort remains favourable compar ed with other children groups in developed countries, consumption of w hole milk and full fat dairy products may be reduced to equilibrate th e diet.