Diet of French infants and toddlers in 1997.

Background - In 1981 and 1989, two French nationwide food consumption surve ys reported the dietary intakes of intakes of infants and toddlers. In 1997 , another survey was conducted. Population and methods. - Six-hundred and sixty, 1 to 30-month-old infants anti children were recruited. Food records were completed by their parents during a 3-day period. Energy, proteins, carbohydrates, total lipids, miner als, vitamins, linoleic acid contents were calculated. Energy contribution of various food groups and the pattern of the distribution of the different meals were indicated Results. - Between 1989 and 1997, the contribution of milk-based infant for mulas increased at 4, 5, 7 and 8-9 months. From the age of 5 months, approx imately 75% of the children had a protein intake twice as high as the offic ial recommendations. Mean iron intakes were higher than those calculated bt 1989 at the age of 7, 8-9 and 10-12 months. The average daily intake of li noleic acid was lower than the recommended daily allowance from the age of 6 months. Conclusion. - Trends in dietary, intakes between 1989 and 1997 indicated th at the nutritional needs of French infants and toddlers are better covered as recommended by scientific committees. More effective efforts are needed for improvement of their nutritional status particularly for iron and essen tial fatty acids. For example, weaning foods should be introduced Inter and toddler's formulas should be used more systematically and longer.