Food Sources of Key Nutrients, Meal and Dietary Patterns among Children Aged 4-13 Years in Ibadan, Nigeria: Findings from the 2019 Kids Nutrition and Health Study

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 200
• Main Authors: Sanusi, Rasaki A, Wang, Dantong, Ariyo, Oluwaseun, Eyinla, Toluwalope E, Tassy, Marie, Eldridge, Alison L, Ogundero, Anuoluwapo, Leshi, Oluwatosin, Lenighan, Yvonne M, Ejoh, Shirley I, Aleru, Elizabeth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 31.12.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age; Beverages; Caregivers; Cassava; Child; child nutrition; Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Child, Preschool; Children; Children & youth; children 4–13 years; Corn; Data collection; Data entry; Diet; Dietary intake; dietary patterns; eating occasions; Energy Intake; Energy sources; Feeding Behavior; Female; Food; Food intake; Food sources; Health Status; Households; Humans; Legumes; Male; Malnutrition; Meals; Nigeria; Nutrients; Nutrition; Nutritional Requirements; Nutritional Status; Nutritive Value; Nuts; Population density; Rice; Seeds; Socioeconomic factors; Software; Teenagers; Nigeria; Ibadan Nigeria; United States > US; food sources; child nutrition; children 4–13 years; dietary patterns; Nigeria; eating occasions; nutrients
• DOI: 10.3390/nu14010200
• ISSN: 2072-6643

This study examined the contribution of food to nutrient intake, meal and dietary patterns among children aged 4-8 and 9-13 years in the city of Ibadan, Nigeria. Multi-pass 24-hour dietary recalls were used to assess intakes. Prudent and traditional Southwestern Nigerian dietary patterns were identified among children. The top foods and beverages were defined by frequency and amount consumed. Meal patterns were described by the eating occasions, while cluster analysis probed dietary patterns. About 88% of children had at least three meals including breakfast (95%), lunch (85%), dinner (92%) and midmorning meals (48%), while about 60% ate snacks at least once daily. Sources of energy and key nutrients were limited (yam, cassava, rice, maize, bread and beans/peas/legumes). The amount consumed per consumer of cassava products (192.2, 256.0 g), yam (169.7, 256.0 g), legumes (115.3, 150.7 g), corn/maize (160.4, 195.2), and rice (138.4, 182.3 g) were high, while beef (15.2, 17.9 g), eggs (50.6, 49.2 g), fish (27.5, 30.6 g), milk (24.2, 27.0 g) and nuts and seeds (18.2, 19.7 g) were low for children ages 4-8 and 9-13 years, respectively. In conclusion, while the frequency of meals suggests a healthy pattern, the top foods could not provide adequate nutrient (especially micronutrient) intake, which is key to the development of the target population.