title: Nutritional quality of foods and beverages on child-care centre menus in Mexico.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to assess the nutritional quality of foods and beverages listed on menus serving children in government-sponsored child-care centres throughout Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this cross-sectional menu assessment, we compared (i) food groups and portion sizes of foods and beverages on the menus with MyPlate recommendations and (ii) macronutrients, sugar and fibre with Daily Reference Intake standards.
  
  
  METHODS
  Menus reflected foods and beverages served to children attending one of 142 government-sponsored child-care centres throughout Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were fifty-four distinct menus for children aged 4–6 months, 7–9 months, 10–12 months, 13–23 months, 24–47 months and 48–72 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Menus included a variety of foods meeting minimum MyPlate recommendations for each food category except whole grains for children aged 48–72 months. Menus listed excessive amounts of high-energy beverages, including full-fat milk, fruit juice and sugar-sweetened beverages for children of all ages. The mean daily energy content of menu items yielded an average of 2?76 MJ for infants, 4.77 MJ for children aged 13–23 months, 5.36 MJ for children aged 24–47 months and 5.87 MJ for children aged 48–72 months. Foods and beverages on menus provided sufficient grams of carbohydrate and fat, but excessive protein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Menus provided a variety of foods but excessive energy. Whole grains were limited, and high-energy beverages were prevalent. Both may be appropriate targets for nutrition intervention. Future studies should move beyond menus and assess what children actually consume in child care.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University Medical Center and Duke Global Health Institute, 2200 W Main Street, DUMC 104006, Durham, NC 27705, USA.
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Benjamin Neelon
authors.forename: Hortensia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reyes-Morales
authors.forename: Jess
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haines
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Gillman
authors.forename: Elsie M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Taveras
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005522:Food Services; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008800:Mexico; D009753:Nutritive Value; D064787:Portion Size