BACKGROUND Dietary intakes of young children are likely to be important determinants of their short- and long-term health, yet there are few longitudinal dietary studies of this age group, and no previous assessments of diets before age 2 years compared with national dietary guidelines. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to compare vegetable, fruit, and discretionary food intakes of children aged 9 months to 5 years to dietary guidelines, and to assess differences in intakes by socioeconomic status and tracking of intakes across early childhood. DESIGN This study analyzed longitudinal data from the Melbourne Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial Program early childhood lifestyle intervention trial, and is the first study to compare diets of children younger than age 2 years to national dietary guidelines. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING Participants were 467 children in Melbourne, Australia, aged 4 months at baseline (study conducted 2008-2015). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Multiple 24-hour recalls with parents were conducted at child ages 9 months, 1.5 years, 3.5 years, and 5 years. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED Intakes of vegetables, fruits, and discretionary foods were compared with Australian Dietary Guidelines. Differences by socioeconomic status and tracking of intakes of each food group were assessed by multivariable linear regression. RESULTS Few children (<10%) met guidelines for discretionary food intakes at any age. Most children (≥90%) met vegetable and fruit guidelines at 9 months, but thereafter rates of adequate intakes reduced substantially. Children of higher socioeconomic status consumed diets closer to guidelines for most food groups at most ages. Tracking of intakes was apparent across ages, with the strongest and most consistent tracking for discretionary foods. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that diets of Australian children participating in this lifestyle intervention trial were suboptimal from early life. The evidence of differences by socioeconomic status and tracking from age 9 months, particularly for discretionary foods, highlights the importance of research and action to support appropriate introduction of complementary foods during the first year of life, and of focusing these efforts on disadvantaged groups.

中文翻译：

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幼儿蔬菜、水果和可自由支配的食物摄入量不符合膳食指南，但确实显示出社会经济差异并随着时间的推移进行跟踪

背景 幼儿的膳食摄入量可能是他们短期和长期健康的重要决定因素，但很少有针对该年龄组的纵向膳食研究，也没有与国家膳食指南相比对 2 岁之前的膳食进行评估。目的 本研究旨在将 9 个月至 5 岁儿童的蔬菜、水果和可自由支配的食物摄入量与膳食指南进行比较，并根据社会经济状况评估摄入量的差异，并跟踪整个幼儿期的摄入量。设计 本研究分析了墨尔本婴儿喂养活动和营养试验计划早期儿童生活方式干预试验的纵向数据，是第一项将 2 岁以下儿童的饮食与国家饮食指南进行比较的研究。参与者/环境 参与者是澳大利亚墨尔本的 467 名儿童，基线时年龄为 4 个月（研究于 2008-2015 年进行）。主要观察指标 对 9 个月、1.5 岁、3.5 岁和 5 岁儿童进行了多次与父母的 24 小时召回。进行的统计分析 蔬菜、水果和可自由支配的食物的摄入量与澳大利亚膳食指南进行了比较。通过多变量线性回归评估社会经济地位的差异和跟踪每个食物组的摄入量。结果 很少有儿童 (<10%) 在任何年龄都符合可自由支配食物摄入量的指南。大多数儿童（≥90%）在 9 个月时符合蔬菜和水果的指导方针，但此后充足摄入量的比例大幅下降。社会经济地位较高的儿童在大多数年龄段的饮食更接近于大多数食物组的指导方针。对摄入量的跟踪在各个年龄段都很明显，对可自由支配的食物的跟踪最强和最一致。结论 这项研究表明，参与这项生活方式干预试验的澳大利亚儿童的饮食从早年开始就不是最理想的。社会经济地位的差异和从 9 个月大开始追踪的证据，特别是可自由支配的食物，突出了研究和行动的重要性，以支持在生命的第一年适当引入辅食，并将这些努力集中在弱势群体身上。结论 这项研究表明，参与这项生活方式干预试验的澳大利亚儿童的饮食从早年开始就不是最理想的。社会经济地位的差异和从 9 个月大开始追踪的证据，特别是可自由支配的食物，突出了研究和行动的重要性，以支持在生命的第一年适当引入辅食，并将这些努力集中在弱势群体身上。结论 这项研究表明，参与这项生活方式干预试验的澳大利亚儿童的饮食从早年开始就不是最理想的。社会经济地位的差异和从 9 个月大开始追踪的证据，特别是可自由支配的食物，突出了研究和行动的重要性，以支持在生命的第一年适当引入辅食，并将这些努力集中在弱势群体身上。