title: Dietary intake in Australian children aged 4-24 months: consumption of meat and meat alternatives.
abstract: Meat/meat alternatives (M/MA) are key sources of Fe, Zn and protein, but intake tends to be low in young children. Australian recommendations state that Fe-rich foods, including M/MA, should be the first complementary foods offered to infants. The present paper reports M/MA consumption of Australian infants and toddlers, compares intake with guidelines, and suggests strategies to enhance adherence to those guidelines. Mother-infant dyads recruited as part of the NOURISH and South Australian Infants Dietary Intake studies provided 3 d of intake data at three time points: Time 1 (T1) (n 482, mean age 5·5 (SD 1·1) months), Time 2 (T2) (n 600, mean age 14·0 (SD 1·2) months) and Time 3 (T3) (n 533, mean age 24 (SD 0·7) months). Of 170 infants consuming solids and aged greater than 6 months at T1, 50 (29%) consumed beef, lamb, veal (BLV) or pork on at least one of 3 d. Commercial infant foods containing BLV or poultry were the most common form of M/MA consumed at T1, whilst by T2 BLV mixed dishes (including pasta bolognaise) became more popular and remained so at T3. The processed M/MA increased in popularity over time, led by pork (including ham). The present study shows that M/MA are not being eaten by Australian infants or toddlers regularly enough; or in adequate quantities to meet recommendations; and that the form in which these foods are eaten can lead to smaller M/MA serve sizes and greater Na intake. Parents should be encouraged to offer M/MA in a recognisable form, as one of the first complementary foods, in order to increase acceptance at a later age.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Medicine, Flinders University,Bedford Park, South Australia5042,Australia.
authors.forename: Chelsea Emma
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Mauch
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Medicine, Flinders University,Bedford Park, South Australia5042,Australia.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Medicine, Flinders University,Bedford Park, South Australia5042,Australia.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Magarey
authors.affiliation: Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology,Brisbane, Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Daniels
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D002417:Cattle; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D034561:Sheep, Domestic; D013552:Swine
keywords: Children; Dietary intake; Infants; Meat/meat alternatives