Hábitos alimentares de pré-escolares do município de Itaqui/RS

Abstract

To identify the eating habits of pre-school infants from the city of Itaqui-RS. Survey performed with pre-school infants, aging 2 to 5 years old, attending a municipal school of children education located in Itaqui-RS. A questionnaire was applied on mothers and/or the legal guardian, and the eating habits were evaluated using a children food frequency questionnaire. Food was classified ""healthy"" and ""not healthy"". Results: Fifty pre-school children aging 24 to 47 months old were evaluated. Regarding to the intake of healthy foods, it was found that the majority of the kids ate, on a daily basis, beans (72%), milk (66%) and water (96%) and that cereals (78%), fruits (76%) and meat (74%) were consumed once to four times a week; while 44% of the pre-school kids consume greens and vegetables less than once a month. About the unhealthy food, it was verified an intake of once to four times a week of foods like sweets (48%), soft drinks (68%), stuffed cookies (36%), french fries (48%) and snacks (68 %), whereas chocolate powder (52%), ham (46%) and artificial juice (60%) were consumed daily. It was found an intake of healthy food below the recommendation highlighting the need to development of actions toward healthy eating habits in the infant population.