Dietary intake by dutch 1- to 3-year-old children at childcare and at home

The goal of the current study was to assess dietary intake in a large 1016) of Dutch toddlers (1-3 years old), both at childcare and at home. intake during two weekdays was recorded using an observation format childcare staff for intake at childcare, and partially pre-coded dietary filled out by parents for intake at home. Children's intake of energy, macronutrients and energy balance-related food groups (fruit, snacks, savoury snacks) were compared with Dutch dietary guidelines. In differences between the dietary intake by various subgroups (based on age, childcare attendance, socio-economic status of childcare centre) explored using multilevel regression analyses, adjusting for nesting of within centres. Energy intake was high relative to dietary guidelines, children consumed more or less equal amounts of energy at home and at Dietary fibre, fruit and vegetable and snack intakes were low. Intake at childcare mainly consisted of carbohydrates, while intake at home proteins and fat. The findings imply various opportunities for childcare to improve children's dietary intake, such as providing fruit and snacking moments. In addition, the findings underline the importance of dietary intake over a whole day, both at childcare and at home, to allow to be compared with dietary guidelines.