Description

ABSTRACT

Background: The present investigation was undertaken to assess the consumption pattern of basic five food groups by children of (4-6 years) of Jorhat, Assam. Methods: A total of 200 pre-school children (4-6 years) were selected at random from four schools of Jorhat district of Assam. The qualitative adequacy of the study population was assessed by using a self administered food frequency questionnaire and the quantitative adequacy by the 24 hours dietary recall method and food models by interviewing the mothers of the target children. Results: In the present study, the frequency of consumption in terms of basic five food groups by the 4-6 years boys and girls revealed that cereals, pulses, fats and oils and sugar and jaggery were consumed by all the target children daily. The consumption of fruits, other vegetables and meat, fish and poultry was quite frequent in comparison to green leafy vegetables and milk and milk products. There was no daily consumption of green leafy vegetables among the target children. Though milk was included in the daily diet, the consumption of milk and milk products was also quite low as compared to other food groups. While the food intake pattern of the target group was analyzed in terms of balanced diet, the results revealed that the mean daily intake of cereals,  fats and oils, sugar and jaggery, pulses, roots and tubers and fruits by the 4-6 years children were (91.58-95.41%), (89-90.8%), (79.25-89.15%), (79.83-83.33%), (79.45-74.45%) and (61.75-62.20%) of the Balanced Diet Recommended (BDR) respectively. The 4-6 years children could meet only (44-47.51%), (42.6-43.5%) and (22.3-23.8%) of the BDR in terms of milk and milk products, other vegetables and green leafy vegetables respectively. Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of the present study, inadequate consumption of the green leafy vegetables, other vegetables and dairy food group is becoming a concern because poor intake leads to shortfalls in the consumption of key vitamins and minerals and may affect growth and development.

Keywords: Jaggery, Pre-schoolers, Pulses, Vegetables, Balanced Diet Recommended (BDR)