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Early Childhood Nutrition and Associated Food Preferences, Dietary Patterns, and Health Outcomes

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 16972

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Jane A. Scott

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Guest Editor

Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
Interests: breastfeeding; complementary feeding; early childhood nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

During the first two years of life, children transition from a diet consisting of breastmilk and/or infant formula to the family diet. These formative years constitute a critical period of life for establishing life-long food preferences and eating behaviors which form the foundations for health in later childhood and adulthood. Compared to other age groups, the food and nutrient intake of infants and toddlers is infrequently assessed and reported, as this age group is often excluded from national nutrition and health surveys. Similarly, the study of dietary patterns and food preferences in this age group is a relatively nascent area of research, while even less is known about the association of early childhood dietary intake and patterns with short and long-term health outcomes.

We are interested in topics including, but not limited to:

Multi-level factors influencing infant feeding practices, food and nutrient intake, and dietary patterns;
The relationship of infant feeding practices and early childhood dietary intake and patterns to the development of food preferences and establishment of long-term dietary behaviors;
The relationship of dietary intake and patterns with short- and long-term health outcomes;
The role of key stakeholders (e.g., parents, health professionals, and community members) and various settings (e.g.., home, childcare settings, and communities) in promoting healthy diet-related behaviors in this age group;
Innovative interventions;
Environmental, organizational, and/or policy changes designed to promote healthy eating in this age group.

Prof. Dr. Jane A. Scott
Guest Editor

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Keywords

breastfeeding
introduction of complementary foods/solids
food and nutrient intake
dietary patterns
parent feeding practices
social and cultural factors
environment
interventions
health promotion
health disparities

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 628 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Survey of Emotional Themes Used in Marketing of Commercial Baby Foods in the UK—Implications for Nutrition Promotion in Early Childhood

by Ada Lizbeth Garcia, Nicole Chee, Elisa Joan Vargas-Garcia and Alison Parrett

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(3), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21030258 - 23 Feb 2024

Viewed by 2300

Abstract

Claims used in the marketing of commercial baby foods are often misleading, and there are concerns that they exploit parental anxieties. We adapted a hierarchical consumer emotions model to explore the emotional themes used in the marketing of commercial baby foods sold in the UK market. A survey administered in three large UK supermarkets collected in-store data on commercial baby food characteristics and the marketing claims used on commercial baby food packaging. The keywords found in these claims were entered in N-Vivo and allocated to four preexisting emotional themes: contentment, happiness, love, and pride. The prevalence of each theme was compared by age suitability (4+, 6+, 9+, and 12+ months) and taste (sweet/savoury) profile. A total of 1666 marketing claims (median 5, IQR 3) and 1003 emotional keywords (median 3, IQR 3) were identified on the packaging of 341 commercial baby foods. Foods suitable for infants aged 6+ months displayed more claims (50%, p < 0.05) and emotional keywords (56%, p = 0.07). Savoury foods displayed more emotional keywords (63%, p < 0.001). The keywords “little”, “encourage”, “love(ly)”, and “tiny” were the most frequently used words under the theme of love (36% total contribution). The emotional connotations of the keywords under the theme “love” are extensively used in the marketing claims on commercial baby food packaging. These might exploit parental vulnerabilities and influence their purchasing of commercial baby foods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Childhood Nutrition and Associated Food Preferences, Dietary Patterns, and Health Outcomes)

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10 pages, 519 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predictors of Free Sugars Intake Trajectories across Early Childhood—Results from the SMILE Birth Cohort Study

by Lucinda K. Bell, Huy V. Nguyen, Diep H. Ha, Gemma Devenish-Coleman, Rebecca K. Golley, Loc G. Do and Jane A. Scott

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(2), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21020174 - 2 Feb 2024

Viewed by 2057

Abstract

Foods and beverages high in free sugars can displace healthier choices and increase the risk of weight gain, dental caries, and noncommunicable diseases. Little is known about the intake of free sugars across early childhood. This study aimed to examine the longitudinal intake from 1 to 5 years of free sugars and identify the independent maternal and child-related predictors of intake in a cohort of Australian children participating in the Study of Mothers’ and Infants’ Life Events Affecting Oral Health (SMILE). Free sugars intake (FSI) was previously estimated at 1, 2, and 5 years of age, and three distinct FSI trajectories were determined using group-based trajectory modelling analysis. This study utilized multinomial logistic regression to identify the maternal and child-related predictors of the trajectories. The risk of following the ‘high and increasing’ trajectory of FSI compared to the ‘low and fast increasing’ trajectory was inversely associated with socio-economic disadvantage (aRRR 0.83; 95% CI 0.75–0.92; p < 0.001), lower for females (aRRR 0.56; 95% CI 0.32–0.98; p = 0.042), and higher in children with two or more older siblings at birth (aRRR 2.32; 95% CI 0.99–5.42; p = 0.052). Differences in trajectories of FSI were evident from an early age and a high trajectory of FSI was associated primarily with socio-economic disadvantage, providing another example of diet quality following a social gradient. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Childhood Nutrition and Associated Food Preferences, Dietary Patterns, and Health Outcomes)

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13 pages, 797 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, Foods of Low Nutritional Value, and Child Undernutrition in Cambodia

by Akemi Brown, Margaret Trimble, Karen Sokal-Gutierrez, Lia Fernald, Kristine Madsen and Bathsheba Turton

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(2), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21020169 - 1 Feb 2024

Viewed by 2061

Abstract

Child undernutrition persists in Cambodia despite recent progress. As Cambodia undergoes a shift in dietary consumption that coincides with economic, demographic, and epidemiologic changes, there is risk of ultra-processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages displacing nutrient-dense foods during the critical period of infant growth in the first 24 months. The aim of this study was to assess the introduction and intake of foods of low nutritional value and sugar-sweetened beverages and their association with undernutrition among children 24 months of age in rural and semi-urban Cambodia. Cross-sectional analyses of a 24-h dietary recall from a sample (n = 377) of 24-month-olds found that the majority of infants had been introduced to packaged salty snacks and sweets by 12 months of age and to sugar-sweetened beverages by 15 months. By 24 months of age, 78% of children had consumed foods of low nutritional value and 57% consumed a sugar-sweetened beverage on the previous day. Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that infant intake of a flavored sugary drink on the previous day was associated with over two times the odds of both stunting and wasting, and consumption of packaged sweets on the previous day was associated with over two times the odds of wasting, but no association was found with stunting. These findings underscore the need to improve educational and policy interventions to support healthy feeding practices for infants and young children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Childhood Nutrition and Associated Food Preferences, Dietary Patterns, and Health Outcomes)

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9 pages, 707 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Capturing Free Sugars Intake in Australian Young Children: The InFANT FFQ

by Miaobing Zheng, Mihiri Silva, Stephanie Heitkonig, Gavin Abbott, Sarah A. McNaughton and Karen J. Campbell

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(2), 1557; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021557 - 14 Jan 2023

Viewed by 2049

Abstract

Excess free sugars intake contributes to dental caries and obesity in children. Food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) that assess free sugars intake in young children are limited. This study evaluated the utility of a 68-item FFQ to assess free sugars intake in Australian young children against three 24-h recalls at ages 1.5, 3.5, and 5.0 years. Free sugars intakes estimated from two methods were compared using group- and individual-level validation tests. Group-level tests revealed that mean free sugars intakes estimated from two methods were similar and Bland-Altman tests revealed no presence of proportional bias at age 1.5 years. For ages 3.5 and 5.0 years, the FFQ underestimated the free sugars intake compared to the recalls, and Bland-Altman tests revealed proportional bias. For individual-level tests, the deattenuated correlation (R) between free sugars intakes estimated from two methods exhibited good agreement across three time-points (R: 0.54–0.62), as were the percentage agreement (68.5–73.6%) and weighted kappa (K_w: 0.26–0.39). The FFQ showed good validity at age 1.5 years. For ages 3.5 and 5.0 years, the FFQ showed good validity for individual-level tests only. The FFQ provided stronger validity in the ranking of individuals according to free sugars intake than comparing absolute free sugars intake at group level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Childhood Nutrition and Associated Food Preferences, Dietary Patterns, and Health Outcomes)

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15 pages, 369 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Maternal Experiences with Discussing Complementary Feeding in Primary Care

by Kelly Lynn Bouchard, Diana S. Grigsby-Toussaint, Katelyn Fox, Sarah Amin, Maya Vadiveloo, Mary L. Greaney and Alison Tovar

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12061; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912061 - 23 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1647

Abstract

Complementary feeding practices promote healthy eating habits and food preferences later in life. Little is known about how US pediatricians communicate infant feeding practices to caregivers or how caregivers respond to this information. The purpose of this study is to explore mothers’ experiences and perceptions of the complementary feeding recommendations they receive in primary care settings. English- and Spanish-speaking mothers of infants were recruited from Special Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children offices in Rhode Island, US, and snowball sampling. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted to investigate mothers’ discussions with pediatricians about complementary feeding and their overall impressions of wellness visits. Thematic analysis was informed by the Fundamentals of Care theoretical framework. The mean age of the sample (n = 13) was 30.5 years and 62% self-identified as Latina. Four themes emerged from the analysis: (1) wellness visits are mostly positive experiences, (2) not all infant feeding recommendations are easy to follow, (3) alternative sources of infant feeding recommendations can be just as helpful, and (4) there is room for improvement at wellness visits. Improving the content, delivery, and cultural relevance of infant feeding recommendations in primary care settings with more specific and tailored information may promote adherence to evidence-based practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Childhood Nutrition and Associated Food Preferences, Dietary Patterns, and Health Outcomes)

12 pages, 354 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Informing State-Wide Coalition Efforts to Implement and Integrate Nutrition Best Practices in Early Care and Education: Focus Group Insights from Child Care Providers

by Brenda D. Koester, Stephanie Sloane, Sarah Chusid and Janna Simon

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10025; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610025 - 14 Aug 2022

Viewed by 1904

Abstract

A healthy diet in early childhood is an important contributor to ensuring lifelong health and in reducing risk for obesity. The child care environment is critical to supporting nutrition as a majority of young children less than 5 years of age are enrolled in out-of-home care. In order to better understand barriers to implementing and integrating nutrition best practices, we conduced focus groups with child care providers (n = 25) in Illinois. Providers from low-income communities, rural communities, and communities of color were prioritized. Focus group participants reported several challenges including the high cost of nutritious food, picky eating, and their perception that parents did not set good examples at home. Many providers identified the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) as a critical resource in helping them implement best practices. Providers discussed needing and wanting more training, more money for food, and more parental support. These results indicate support for additional resources and sustained training and technical assistance to address perceived challenges. The evidence of the importance of CACFP in helping providers engage in nutrition best practices indicates support for expansion and strengthening of the program. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Childhood Nutrition and Associated Food Preferences, Dietary Patterns, and Health Outcomes)

21 pages, 610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trends in Complementary Feeding Indicators and Intake from Specific Food Groups among Children Aged 6–23 Months in Bangladesh

by Sabuj Kanti Mistry, Md Belal Hossain, Nafis Md Irfan, Manika Saha, Silvia Saberin, Abu Ahmed Shamim and Amit Arora

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(1), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010550 - 4 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3564

Abstract

The present study aims to comprehensively analyse trends in complementary feeding indicators (Introduction of solid, semi-solid, and soft foods at 6–8 months (INTRO), Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD), Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF) and Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD)) among children aged 6–23 months in Bangladesh. The study used data from four rounds (2007, 2011, 2014, and 2017–2018) of nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHSs). The Cochran–Armitage test was performed to capture the trends in complementary feeding practices and intake from specific food groups. BDHSs are periodically conducted cross-sectional surveys in all seven administrative divisions of Bangladesh. The present analysis was performed among 8116 children (1563 in 2007, 2137 in 2011, 2249 in 2014, and 2167 in 2017–2018) aged 6–23 months. Overall, a decreasing trend was observed in all the complementary feeding indicators except INTRO from 2007 to 2014, but a substantial increase in MDD, MMF and MAD was noted in 2017–2018. A statistically significant reduction in consumption from different food groups such as legumes and nuts (p < 0.001), dairy products (p = 0.001), vitamin-A-rich fruits or vegetables (p < 0.001), and other fruits and vegetables (p < 0.001) was also observed. However, a positive trend was noted in the consumption of grains/roots/tubers (p = 0.027), and meat/fish/egg (p < 0.001). After experiencing a significant decreasing trend during 2007–2014, the recent BDHS indicates improvements in all complementary feeding indicators among young children in Bangladesh, which calls for integrated, multisectoral, and multicomponent interventions to sustain this progress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Childhood Nutrition and Associated Food Preferences, Dietary Patterns, and Health Outcomes)

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