The contribution of food groups to the nutrient intake and food pattern among pre-school children

A pre-school-based dietary survey, using 7-day records, was carried out in Sweden in the Stockholm area at 12 pre-schools; the survey included 109 of 131 participating children. The present study was designed to describe weekday and weekend food patterns, i.e. the frequency of consumption of food items and the contribution of energy and nutrient intake from different food groups, and to explore how foods are related in pre-school children's diet. At pre-school, all children except one ate vegetables and fruits about once a day, and all children consumed, on average, milk and cheese, meat products, bread and breakfast cereals and fats more than once a day. Milk and cheese products, bread and breakfast cereals and meat products were the primary source of energy and protein. The main source of dietary fibre was bread and breakfast cereals, potatoes and fruits. The “low-nutrient foods”, e.g. confectionery, buns, and soft drinks, contributed 20% of the energy during the weekdays and 33% during the weekend days. When all food groups (g/MJ) were analysed simultaneously in a Principal Components Analysis (PCA), 52% of the variation was explained. The food consumption data were described using four food clusters: milk and cheese products; bread and breakfast cereals; meat, potatoes and cooked cereals; confectionery, buns and soft drinks. In conclusion, the PCA seems to be a useful visual tool for elucidating how foods are related in the diet.