engleski

Dairy offer and calcium content assessement in menus of costal Croatia kindergartens

Unbalanced intake of nutrients in early age can be associated with a number of health disorders in adult age. Pre-school age is a significant period for establishing healthy eating habits. Today pre-school children spend most of the day time (8-10 h) in kindergartens where they get about 80 % or more of their daily dietary needs through four meals: breakfast, brunch, lunch, and afternoon snack. We assessed quality of these meals regarding the intake of milk and dairy products, which present major source of calcium, an essential macronutrient necessary for children's growth. Analysed meals were prepared exclusively for healthy pre-school children (in total n=1000) in kindergartens from Zadar County, typical coastal Croatian region. Concurrent 15-day food records were taken in collaboration with the nursery staff (during 15 consecutive days, except weekends) over the three seasons: spring, autumn, and winter. Servings of milk and dairy products were estimated and content of calcium has been calculated, statistically analysed, and compared with respective recommendations. We found no difference in both milk and dairy products as well as calcium content in the meals offered in different seasons. Milk and dairy products were adequately represented in the weekly offers with the average of approx. 11 servings during spring, winter and autumn. Average calcium content in the offered meals was 803±175, 931±175, and 952±164 mg a day in spring, winter and autumn. To conclude, calcium content in daily menus of coastal Croatian (North Dalmatian) kindergarten children is in agreement with the recommended dietary reference intake for pre-school children (300-800 mg a day) as well as the respective Croatian recommendations (400-700 mg a day).

calcium; kindergarten childern; milk and dairy products; seasonal variation

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