According to a study carried out in 2009 by the Institut d’Etude In vivo BVA for the French Childhood Food Union (SFAE), it was found that 34% of children aged 13-18 months already consumed cold meats.
If they are concerned about doing well, parents often deviate from the dietary recommendations given by the pediatrician. The study shows real differences between the real diet of children from 1 to 3 years old and the nutritional recommendations.
The three major causes are the addition of non-essential ingredients such as salt, butter or cheese, the preparation of meals not adapted to the nutritional needs of children from 1 to 3 years old, and especially the use of foods intended for for adults such as fries or breaded fish. Thus, 53% of 13-18 months and 98% of 31-36 months eat regularly in the same way as their parents.
“The period of 1 to 3 years is a springboard towards the rest of life: it is a period when the child needs very specific nutritional contributions”, explains Doctor Martine Prats, pediatrician. The study underlines that the correct nutritional intake of children aged 1 to 3 is decisive for the future, whether in terms of the child’s health or his future food preferences.
Source: www.alimentsenfance.com
