title: The Nutritional Contribution of Foods and Beverages Provided by Government-Sponsored Day Care Centers in Guatemala.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Meals served at government-run day care centers must be nutritionally adequate to ensure good health and proper development of preschool-aged children. They can provide a controlled opportunity to complement the daily diet of children in vulnerable populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the nutrient adequacy and leading food sources of nutrients provided by the diet served in government-sponsored day care centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Estimated daily energy and nutrient intakes of a theoretical 40-day day care center menu were calculated, and the nutrient adequacy was assessed. Nutrient densities and critical nutrient densities of the menu were computed to identify nutrient inadequacies. Furthermore, main sources of nutrients were identified, and energy and nutrient distributions were examined by meal time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The menu provides approximately 90% of daily energy requirement and more than 100% of Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs), with the exception of vitamin D and calcium. Sugar was the first leading source of energy, whereas milk was the first leading contributor of vitamin D.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within an environment of budgetary constraints, the Guatemalan government developed and advocated an exemplary menu offering for children in the vulnerable preschool period. We have demonstrated that, if prepared and served as planned, the items from the official, standard menu would supply most of the nutrients needed. High vitamin A intake related to the mandated national fortification program is a potential problem. From the analysis, it was found that vitamin D emerges as the most prominent candidate for a problem nutrient of deficient intake.
authors.affiliation: Center for Studies of Sensory Impairment, Aging and Metabolism, Guatemala City, Guatemala cessiam@guate.net.gt mvossenaar@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vossenaar
authors.affiliation: Center for Studies of Sensory Impairment, Aging and Metabolism, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
authors.forename: Liza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Center for Studies of Sensory Impairment, Aging and Metabolism, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montenegro-Bethancourt
authors.affiliation: Center for Studies of Sensory Impairment, Aging and Metabolism, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Soto-Méndez
authors.affiliation: Center for Studies of Sensory Impairment, Aging and Metabolism, Guatemala City, Guatemala Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Odilia I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Bermudez
authors.affiliation: Center for Studies of Sensory Impairment, Aging and Metabolism, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
authors.forename: Noel W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Solomons
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages; D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005522:Food Services; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006166:Guatemala / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009313:National Health Programs; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services
keywords: Guatemala; children; day care centers; nutrient adequacy