Food consumption pattern ofIndian rural preschool children

(four to five years)Manu and N. Khetarpaul

Department of Foods and Nutrition, CCS Haryana Agricultural University,Hisar, India

Abstract

Purpose The aim of the present nutritional survey was to assess the food consumption pattern of183 Indian preschool children (four to five years) in Fatehabad district of Haryana.

Design/methodology/approach Data regarding food frequency, myths and intake were collectedwith the help of questionnaires and structured interviews. Food consumption patterns were recordedusing a 24-hour recall for three consecutive days.

Findings The food frequency pattern indicated that wheat was the most accepted cereal amongalmost all the families and the consumption of pulses was weekly or on alternate days. They consumedroots and tubers frequently but the consumption of green leafy vegetables, fruits and other vegetablesdepended on the availability only. Most of the families consumed buffalos milk (93 per cent) and desighee (73 per cent) daily. More than half of the respondents mothers believed bajra, maize (corn), somepulses, bathua (Chenopodium album) and fenugreek leaves, onion, garlic, ginger, desi ghee and sweetsare hot foods. According to the 24-hour recall method for three consecutive days, the daily mean intakeof all foodstuffs, namely, cereals, pulses, green leafy vegetables, roots and tubers, other vegetables,fruits, fats and oils, milk and milk products and sugar and jaggery was lower than their respectiverecommended dietary intake in the daily diets of preschool children.

Originality/value On the basis of findings of this study, nutrition policy makers can plan thestrategies for improving the nutritional status of preschool children who are an important segment ofthe Indian population.

Keywords Diet, Children (age groups), Food products, India

Paper type Research paper

IntroductionHealthy children are an important aspect of a nations health. Nutrition of pre-schoolchildren is of paramount importance not only for survival, but also because thedevelopment for health, strength and intellectual vitality is laid during that period(Thakar and Patil, 1990). Unfortunately in developing countries like India, thepreschool children are extremely vulnerable because food available to them is neitheradequate nor suitable for maintenance of resistance to disease as well as physicaldevelopment. According to Iyer (1999), 40 per cent of malnourished children in theworld are found in India. The growing children must have enough food having allessential nutrients. Children who do not have an adequate nutrition intake will becomemalnourished. The rate of growth and development of pre-school children depends to alarge measure on the adequacy of the diets consumed by them. The diet and nutritionsurveys carried out by The National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB) and TheNational Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in 12 states of country revealed that the diets ofthe rural population are inadequate and deficient in most of the nutrients. There iswidespread energy deficiency in the rural households. About 60 per cent of preschool

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Foodconsumption

pattern

127

British Food JournalVol. 108 No. 2, 2006

pp. 127-140q Emerald Group Publishing Limited

0007-070XDOI 10.1108/00070700610644942

children are under weight, 62 per cent are stunted and about 15 per cent suffer fromwasting (Vijayaraghavan and Rao, 1998).

Studies undertaken at NIN, Hyderabad have confirmed that preschool children whoreceived supplements which provided about 300 calories and 3-4 gm of protein a dayshowed a very satisfactory growth rate. However, the rural preschool children were notconsuming these supplements properly, and the diets which they consumed are alsoinfluenced by social customs, beliefs, superstitions, gender biasness, illiteracy, foodfads, religion, cultural behaviour, changes in living environment and socio-economicstatus of families (Premakumari and Devadas, 1990). Besides these factors, theunfavourable attitude and ignorance of mothers about the appropriate weaning andfeeding practices, and lack of awareness about balanced diet serve as majorcontributing factors leading to the nutritional problems of the Indian rural children.Hence, the incidence of malnutrition varies greatly from place to place, depending onlocal dietary and social factors.

The present study investigates the frequency of food intake, myths associated withfoods and the consumption patterns of various preschool children (four to five years) ofHaryana State.

Materials and methodsSelection of blocks and villagesThe present study was conducted in Fatehabad district of Haryana State (India) andenvisaged selection of two blocks by purposively sampling. Then a list of villages fromthese two blocks (Bhuna and Fatehabad) of Fatehabad district was obtained from theBlock Development Office. Two villages i.e. Gorakhpur and Khasapathana fromBhuna block and two villages namely Matana and Barseen from Fatehabad block wereselected by simple random sampling (Panse and Sukhatme, 1961).

Selection of respondentsA list of preschool children in the age group of four to five years was prepared with thehelp of Anganwari (field) workers in the four selected villages. Out of these, 183respondents (94 male and 89 female) from the four villages were selected randomly.

Data collectionThe data regarding food frequency, food consumption and food myths prestructuredwere collected with the help of questionnaires and structured interviews by payingvisits to the study areas. Information regarding the intake of food for three consecutivedays was collected from the mothers of children personally by the researcher using a24-hour recall method, as used by the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB)(1980). The standard household measures including containers of six consecutive sizes;spoons, glasses and serving bowls, were shown to the respondents mothers to helpthem indicate exact amount of foods which were prepared in the house daily and, out ofthe total prepared food, the exact amount of foods consumed by each family member ofthe respondents. In order to assess the exact amount of wheat flour, the mothers wereasked about the size of the unleavened bread/paranthas (toasted unleavened breadcontaining salt and fat). General information on consistency of foods especially dals(cooked legumes) and vegetables was asked for more accuracy in calculation. All thefoods consumed by the respondents were cooked in the laboratory under conditionssimilar to those of the respondents households and accordingly, the standard raw

BFJ108,2

128

weights were calculated for each food. The mean daily food intake was calculated bytaking the mean of three days intake. Average intake of the subjects was comparedwith the recommended dietary intake of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)(NIN, 1998).

Statistical analysis of dataThe data were analyzed with the help of percentages, mean^ standard deviation (SD)and Z test.

Z testZ test was applied to study the significance of mean of a random sample with that ofthe recommended daily intake when sample size was more than 30:

Z x2 mj js=

np

where:

x Mean of sample observation.m Reference value.n Sample size.s SD of the sample.

ResultsThe information regarding frequency and myths associated with foodstuffs intake anddaily mean food intake of boys and girls of four to five years has been discussed asgiven below.

Nature and frequency of food intake by the respondents and their familiesCereals. Frequency of food intake analysis in Table I revealed that wheat was the mostaccepted cereal among the families of the respondents as it was consumed daily by 100per cent of those selected. Rice and corn were not consumed daily. Rice was consumedalternately (7.33 per cent), weekly (27.67 per cent), fortnightly (7.67 per cent) and rarely(43.67 per cent). The majority of the families (94 per cent) did not consume maize (corn)and a few consumed it alternately (0.67 per cent), weekly (3 per cent), fortnightly (1.33per cent) or rarely (1 per cent). In the winter season, bajra (pearl millet) was consumedquite frequently by the families.

Pulses. Although daily and alternate day consumption of various pulses includingbengal gram, black gram, red gram and lentil was minimal, yet green gram was takenweekly by majority of the families i.e. 66 per cent followed by its consumption onalternate days by 22.33 per cent families. Soybean was not popular as 92.62 per cent ofthe families did not consume it. More than 50 per cent of the families consumed lentil(52 per cent), green gram (66 per cent) and bengal gram (52.67 per cent) once a week.

Leafy vegetables. The daily intake of various green leafy vegetable, namely,amaranth, bathua (Chenopodium album), fenugreek leaves, mustard and spinach wasminimal. However, coriander leaves (34 per cent) and mint (14 per cent) were includedin the diet daily by some of the families. Most of the families (56-70 per cent) consumed

Foodconsumption

pattern

129

Dai

lyA

lter

nat

ely

Wee

kly

For

tnig

htl

yR

arel

yN

otco

nsu

med

Foo

dst

uff

sn

%n

%n

%n

%n

%n

%

Cereals

Wh

eat

300

100.

0

R

ice

227.

3383

27.6

723

7.67

131

43.6

741

13.6

7Bajra

(Pea

rlm

ille

t)61

20.3

311

036

.67

7525

.00

82.

6713

4.33

3311

.00

Cor

n

2

0.67

93.

004

1.33

31.

0028

294

.00

Pulses

Ben

gal

gra

m3

1.00

299.

6715

852

.67

51.

6719

6.33

8628

.67

Bla

ckg

ram

20.

6721

7.00

123

41.0

03

1.00

165.

3313

545

.00

Gre

eng

ram

175.

6767

22.3

319

866

.00

124.

006

2.00

Red

gra

m2

0.67

62.

0033

11.0

02

0.67

103.

3324

782

.33

Mot

hb

ean

31.

0052

17.3

3

9

3.00

236

78.6

7L

enti

l5

1.67

248.

015

652

.00

144.

6710

133

.67

Soy

bea

n

3

1.00

155.

00

4

1.33

278

92.6

7

Leafy

vegetables

Am

aran

th4

1.33

5618

.67

169

56.3

3

4

1.33

6722

.33

Bathua

(Chenopodium

album

)14

4.67

6822

.67

179

59.6

71

0.33

41.

3334

11.3

3C

oria

nd

er10

234

.00

6220

.67

9933

.00

10.

3312

4.00

248.

00F

enu

gre

ekle

aves

165.

3370

23.3

317

759

.00

10.

3311

3.67

258.

33B

eng

alg

ram

leav

es

18

6.00

3712

.33

103.

3323

578

.33

Mu

star

d5

1.67

6923

.00

210

70.0

0

9

3.00

72.

33M

int

4314

.33

3110

.33

8227

.33

82.

6714

4.67

122

40.6

7S

pin

ach

165.

3362

20.6

721

070

.00

62.

006

2.00

Rootsandtubers

Rad

ish

118

39.3

344

14.6

712

842

.67

62.

004

1.33

Car

rot

113

37.6

746

15.3

312

541

.67

31.

009

3.00

41.

33P

otat

o14

147

.00

7926

.33

4715

.67

72.

3318

6.00

82.

67O

nio

n24

682

.00

124.

0029

9.67

31.

0010

3.33

Col

ocas

ia13

4.33

217.

0010

836

.00

124.

0072

24.0

074

24.6

7G

ing

er13

645

.33

155.

0030

10.0

0

32

10.6

787

29.0

0G

arli

c15

351

.00

3010

.00

3010

.00

144.

6773

24.3

3T

urn

ip67

22.3

324

8.00

6928

.00

93.

0056

18.6

775

25.0

0(continued

)

Table I.Frequency of food intakeby families ofpreschoolers

BFJ108,2

130

Dai

lyA

lter

nat

ely

Wee

kly

For

tnig

htl

yR

arel

yN

otco

nsu

med

Foo

dst

uff

sn

%n

%n

%n

%n

%n

%

Other

vegetables

Bri

nja

l2

0.67

248.

0015

953

.00

41.

3348

16.0

063

21.0

0T

omat

o16

755

.67

93.

0096

32.0

03

1.00

155.

0010

3.33

Cau

lifl

ower

103.

3334

11.3

321

471

.33

31.

0030

10.0

09

3.00

Cab

bag

e14

4.67

3110

.33

209

69.6

7

33

11.0

013

4.33

Gre

ench

illi

es20

167

.00

155.

0052

17.3

3

13

4.33

196.

33L

ady

fin

ger

144.

6729

9.67

213

71.0

0

30

10.0

014

4.67

Pea

s17

5.67

4113

.67

209

69.6

7

27

9.00

62.

00

Fruits

Gu

ava

227.

3334

11.3

317

758

.70

6722

.33

Ap

ple

7123

.66

183

61.0

046

15.3

4B

anan

a2

0.67

5016

.67

248.

0019

665

.33

289.

33Ber

(Zizypus)

3812

.67

7023

.33

170

56.6

622

7.33

Lem

on64

21.3

3

31

10.3

313

4.33

171

57.0

021

7.00

Ora

ng

e

68

22.6

720

367

.67

299.

67

Milk

andmilk

products

Cow

sm

ilk

227.

333

1.00

20.

6727

391

.33

Bu

ffal

os

mil

k27

993

.00

72.

33

2

0.67

124.

00G

oat

sm

ilk

300

100

Cu

rd20

6.67

144.

6758

19.3

320

6.67

123

41.0

065

21.6

7B

utt

erm

ilk

201

67.0

036

12.0

011

3.67

72.

3345

15.0

0B

utt

er94

31.3

325

8.33

206.

67

59

19.6

710

234

.00

Sw

eets

227.

3371

23.6

712

441

.33

8327

.67

Fatsandoils

Desighee

(mil

kfa

t)21

973

.00

3210

.67

4916

.33

Hy

dro

gen

ated

fat

107

35.6

7

26

8.67

82.

6715

953

.00

Refi

ned

oil

124.

00

11

3.67

277

92.3

3M

ust

ard

oil

9531

.67

41.

3367

22.6

613

444

.67

Table I.

Foodconsumption

pattern

131

amaranth, bathua (Chenopodium album), fenugreek leaves, mustard leaves once aweek.

Roots and tubers. The majority of the respondents used onion (82 per cent), ginger(45 per cent) and garlic (51 per cent) daily in their diets. In comparison to other rootsand tubers, potato, radish and carrots were consumed more frequently. Only a fewfamilies (1.33 to 2.67 per cent) did not consume these roots and tubers at all. Aboutone-quarter of the respondents families (24 to 29 per cent) did not include colocasia,ginger, garlic and turnip in their diets.

Other vegetables. The majority of the families consumed tomato (55.67 per cent) andgreen chillies (67 per cent) daily. The daily consumption or consumption on alternatedays of other vegetables including brinjal, cauliflower, cabbage, lady finger and peaswas minimal. Most of the families (53 to 71 per cent) were consuming these vegetablesexcept tomato and green chillies once a week. Fortnightly consumption of thesevegetables was only by 1 to 1.33 per cent. Some of the families (21 per cent) did notconsume brinjal at all, while 2 to 6 per cent of the families did not take other vegetablesin their diets.

Fruits. Intake of fruits was very low. Daily and alternately consumption of fruits bythe families was almost nil except ber (Zizyphus) (12.67 per cent) and lemon (21.33 percent). Similarly, weekly consumption of fruits was also not very heartening except incase of banana (16.67 per cent) and ber (Zizyphus) (23.33 per cent). Other fruits likeguava, apple, orange, etc. were consumed fortnightly or rarely.

Milk and milk products. Buffalo milk was consumed more in comparison to cowsmilk by the majority of the families (93 per cent) who were taking it daily. A few percent of families (7 per cent) were taking cows milk. No family was taking goats milk.Among milk products the daily intake of buttermilk was relatively more in comparisonto curd, the percentage being 67 and 6.67 per cent, respectively. About 34 per cent ofthe families did not consume butter at all. No family was consuming sweets daily or onalternate days. The majority of the families were consuming sweets rarely (41 per cent)followed by nil consumption (27.67 per cent), fortnightly consumption (23.67 per cent)and weekly consumption (7 per cent). Similarly, most of the families (35.67 per cent)were using hydrogenated fat as a cooking medium daily.

Fats and oils. Desi ghee (animal fat) was consumed daily by the majority of families(73 per cent). At the same time, a few (16 per cent) were not consuming it at all or rarely(10.67 per cent). The consumption of refined vegetable oil was minimal as 92 per cent ofthe families did not use it at all while 4 and 3.67 per cent of the families used it dailyand rarely, respectively. Mustard oil was also used as a cooking medium by 31.67 percent of the families daily and 22.66 per cent of them rarely. However, many of thefamilies (44.67 per cent) did not use it at all.

Myths associated with food intake by mothers of the respondentsThe response of mothers of the respondents to different myths associated with foods isdepicted in Table II. People considered hot foods to be those which, after consumption,produced heat in the body or could cause heart burning or acidity, e.g. garlic, bajra(pearl millet), chillies and other spices. Curd, ice cream, cold milk, orange, lime fruit, etc.were generally considered as cold foods and people avoided them when they sufferfrom cold and flu, chest infection, etc. Foods, which were believed to be hot by morethan 50 per cent of the families, were pearl millet (bajra), corn, bengal gram, blackgram, red gram, moth bean, soybean, amaranth, bathua, fenugreek leaves, chick pealeaves, mustard, potato, onion, colocasia, ginger, garlic, brinjal, sweets, desi ghee and

BFJ108,2

132

Hot Cold No responseFoodstuffs n % n % n %

CerealsWheat 72 24.00 225 75.00 3 1.00Rice 11 3.67 285 95.00 4 1.33Pearl millet 284 94.67 14 4.67 2 0.67Corn 197 65.67 100 33.33 3 1.00

PulsesBengal gram 166 55.33 132 44.00 2 0.67Black gram 170 56.67 125 41.67 5 1.67Green gram 38 12.67 260 86.67 2 0.67Red gram 171 57.00 116 38.67 13 4.33Moth bean 170 56.67 121 40.33 9 3.00Lentil 142 47.33 155 51.67 3 1.00Soybean 178 59.33 108 36.00 14 4.67

Leafy vegetablesAmaranth 238 79.33 60 20.00 2 0.67Bathua ((Chenopodium album) 180 60.00 118 39.33 2 0.67Coriander 29 9.67 270 90.00 1 0.33Fenugreek leaves 253 84.33 44 14.67 3 1.00Bengal gram leaves 165 55.00 129 43.00 6 2.00Mustard 151 50.33 147 49.00 2 0.67Mint 20 6.67 279 93.00 1 0.33Spinach 100 33.33 199 66.33 1 0.33

Roots and tubersRadish 66 22.00 232 77.33 2 0.67Carrot 61 20.33 237 79.00 2 0.67Potato 203 67.66 95 31.67 2 0.67Onion 165 55.00 133 44.43 2 0.67Colocasia 190 63.33 102 34.00 8 2.67Ginger 270 90.00 26 8.67 4 1.33Garlic 257 85.67 35 11.67 8 2.67Turnip 80 26.67 216 72.00 4 1.33

Other vegetablesBrinjal 208 69.33 85 28.33 7 2.33Tomato 115 38.33 179 59.67 6 2.00Cauliflower 56 18.67 238 79.33 6 2.00Cabbage 50 16.67 248 82.67 2 0.67Green chillies 87 29.00 207 69.00 6 2.00Lady finger 39 13.00 255 85.00 6 2.00Peas 47 15.67 247 82.33 6 2.00

FruitsGuava 64 21.33 234 78.00 2 0.67Apple 11 3.67 287 95.67 2 0.67Banana 12 4.00 286 95.33 2 0.67Ber (Zizypus) 89 29.67 209 69.67 2 0.67Lemon 15 5.00 282 94.00 3 1.00Orange 14 4.67 283 94.33 3 1.00

(continued )

Table II.Per cent response offamilies to different

myths associated withfoods

Foodconsumption

pattern

133

hydrogenated fat. Cold foods included wheat, rice, green gram, lentil, coriander, mint,spinach, radish, carrot, turnip, tomato, cauliflower, cabbage, green chillies, lady finger,peas, fruits, curd, buttermilk, butter, cows milk, buffalo and goat milk, refined oil andmustard oil.

Foods taken and avoided by respondents during major diseasesThe data presented in Table III depict that the majority (70.35 per cent) of respondentsconsumed light foods during fever, namely, tea, bread/biscuits, porridge (dalia)/cookedrice and legume (khichdi) preparation, milk and fruit. A total of 12 per cent of childrenconsumed the foods as per doctors advice followed by as per own demand (8 per cent)and whatever was available in the house (9 per cent). The majority of families (88 percent) did not avoid any specific food during fever. The remaining families avoidedunleavened bread i.e. chapati, buttermilk/curd and fried foods during fever, as perdoctors advice.

Similarly, during loose motions, the majority (71.5 per cent) of the children preferredlight foods including khichdi (rice and legume preparation), curd, buttermilk, banana,cooked legume water, oral rehydration solution (ORS) and Isabgol. The remainingchildren consumed food as per the doctors advice (15 per cent), whatever was availablein the house (7.56 per cent) and as per their own choice (5.81 per cent). More than half(58 per cent) of the children did not avoid any food during loose motions.

In typhoid/measles, 50 per cent children consumed light foods, namely,khichdi/porridge (26.16 per cent), dal (cooked legume), water (1.16 per cent), milk/teaalong with biscuits/bread (20.94 per cent) and khajoor (dates) (1.74 per cent). A total of33 per cent of children consumed foods as per doctors advice and the remaining 8 and9 per cent of children consumed food as per own demand and whatever was availablein the house, respectively.

Foods prepared on festivals by respondents familiesThe majority (64 to 82 per cent) of the families of respondents were preparing sweetcereal preparation i.e. halwa, malpura (sweetened wheat flour preparation), kheer(rice/milk/sugar), poori (ball shaped fried wheat bread) and sweets for the major Indianfestivals, namely, Teej, Holi, Diwali and Dusshera (Table IV).

Hot Cold No responseFoodstuffs n % n % n %

Milk and milk productsCows milk 37 12.33 256 85.33 7 2.33Buffalos milk 52 17.33 245 81.67 3 1.00Goats milk 44 14.67 245 81.67 11 3.67Curd 9 3.00 288 96.00 3 1.00Buttermilk 4 1.33 293 97.67 3 1.00Butter 32 10.67 265 88.33 3 1.00

Fats and oilsDesi ghee (milk fat) 150 50.00 147 49.00 3 1.00Hydrogenated fat 148 49.33 146 48.67 6 2.00Refined oil 132 44.00 161 53.67 7 2.33Mustard oil 34 11.33 261 87.00 5 1.67Table II.

BFJ108,2

134

Foo

ds

acce

pte

dN

o.P

erce

nta

ge

Foo

ds

avoi

ded

No.

Per

cen

tag

e

Fever I

As

per

adv

ice

ofth

ed

octo

r21

12.2

1I

As

per

adv

ice

ofth

ed

octo

r21

12.2

1II

As

per

dem

and

ofth

ech

ild

148.

14II

Chapati

(un

leav

ened

bre

ad)

148.

14II

IW

hat

ever

avai

lab

lein

the

hou

se16

9.30

III

Bu

tter

mil

k/c

urd

2212

.79

IVL

igh

tfo

ods:

121

70.35

IVF

ried

food

s20

11.6

3a)

Tea

and

bre

ad/b

iscu

its

7543

.60

VN

il95

55.2

3b

)Dalia

(wh

eat

por

rid

ge

orkhichdi

ri

cean

dle

gu

me)

4224

.42

c)M

ilk

and

fru

its

42.

33

Loose

motions

IA

sp

erad

vic

eof

the

doc

tor

2615

.12

IChapati

/Chapati

and

mil

k22

12.7

9II

As

per

dem

and

ofth

ech

ild

105.

81II

As

per

adv

ice

ofth

ed

octo

r17

9.89

III

Wh

atev

erav

aila

ble

inth

eh

ouse

137.

56II

IF

ried

food

s33

19.1

8IV

Lig

ht

food

s:123

71.51

IVN

il10

058

.14

a)Khichdi

and

curd

orkhichdi

alon

e82

47.6

7b

)R

ice,

curd

,b

utt

erm

ilk

,b

anan

a,or

dal

(coo

ked

leg

um

e)w

ater

3218

.60

c)H

ome

trea

tmen

t(O

RS

andIsabgol

)9

5.24

Typhoid/M

easles

IA

sp

erad

vic

eof

the

doc

tor

5632

.56

IA

sp

erad

vic

eof

the

doc

tor

5029

.07

IIA

sp

erd

eman

dof

the

chil

d14

8.14

IIC

old

food

andchapati

3118

.02

III

Wh

atev

erav

aila

ble

inth

eh

ouse

169.

30II

IN

il91

52.9

1IV

Lig

ht

food

s:86

50.00

a)Khichdi/Dalia

4526

.16

b)Dal

wat

er2

1.16

c)M

ilk

/tea

alon

gw

ith

bis

cuit

s/b

read

3620

.94

d)Monacca

/Khajoor

(dry

dat

es)

31.

74

Table III.Foods taken and avoided

by respondents duringmajor diseases

Foodconsumption

pattern

135

Food consumption pattern of respondentsCereals. Cereals are part and parcel of the Indian diet and provide energy and severalother nutrients at a very low cost. Mean daily intake of cereals of the children waslower than the recommended daily intake (RDI) (NIN, 1998). Boys were taking 152 g ofcereals per day, which was 72.46 per cent of the RDI, and girls were still taking lessamounts of cereal i.e. 145.92 g/day, which is 69.49 per cent of the RDI (see Table V. Bothboys and girls of this age group had less daily intake of cereals than the RDI. At thesame time, the intake of cereals was not significantly (p # 0:05) lower than the RDIamong children. Boys were taking slight higher amount of cereals than the girls but nosignificant (p # 0:05) differences were observed between both sexes.

Pulses. The mean daily intake of pulses for the boys was only 43.66 per cent of theRDI and it was higher in girls as their intake was 61.35 per cent of the RDI. While therewas no doubt that the girls were taking better amount of pulses in their diets than the

Festivals menu No. Percentage

TeejPucca foodsa:Halwa b/Malpura c/kheer d/Halwa, poori e 132 76.75Halwa, sweets/sweets, kheer/sweets alone 17 9.88Kheer/Sevian f alone 8 4.65Nil 15 8.72DiwaliPucca foods:Halwa, malpura/Halwa, poori/Halwa kheer/Halwa,

rice 140 81.40Sweets alone/sweets, halwa/sweets kheer 30 17.44Nil 2 1.16HoliPucca foods:Halwa, malpura or Halwa alone 118 68.60Sweets, Halwa or Kheer 39 22.68Nil 15 8.72DussheraPucca foods:Halwa or Malpura Halwa poori/Kheer 111 64.54Sweets alone 44 25.58Rice alone 9 5.23Nil 8 4.65AmavasyaKheer 106 61.63Nil 66 38.37BasaudaSweet rice/sweet chapati 115 66.86Nil 57 33.14PurnimaKheer 97 56.40Nil 75 43.60

Notes: a Fried food; b Semolina and milk fat and sugar; c Wheat flour and sugar and milk fat; d Milkand rice; e Fried small wheat flour bread; f Vermicilli and milk fat and sugar

Table IV.Foods prepared onfestivals by respondentsfamilies

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136

Dai

lym

ean

food

inta

ke

(g)

Fou

rto

fiv

ey

ears

%R

DI

Boy

s(n

94)

Gir

ls(n

89)

Z

val

ue

Foo

dst

uff

sR

DI

(g)

Mea

n^

SD

Z

val

ues

aM

ean^

SD

Z

val

ues

aB

oys

Gir

lsB

oys-

gir

ls

Cer

eals

210

152:

17^

34:6

1.67

25N

S14

5:92^

37:7

1.69

80N

S72

.46

69.4

91.

1660

NS

Pu

lses

4519

:65^

13:4

1.89

34N

S27

:61^

94:4

0.18

43N

S43

.66

61.3

50.

7880

NS

Roo

tsan

dtu

ber

s10

042

:86^

37:0

1.54

61N

S39

:20^

32:5

1.86

86N

S42

.86

39.2

00.

7119

NS

Oth

erv

eget

able

s50

34:5

0^

42:4

0.36

54N

S49

:49^

58:9

0.00

86N

S69

.00

98.9

91.

9677

*

Gre

enle

afy

veg

etab

les

500:

97^

4:2

11.5

469

**

0:98^

5:1

9.66

93*

*1.

941.

960.

0136

NS

Fru

its

100

12:1

4^

18:2

4.82

51*

*13

:06^

23:1

3.76

24*

*12

.14

13.0

60.

2974

NS

Mil

kan

dm

ilk

pro

du

cts

500

397:

38^

128:

70.

7973

NS

378:

84^

117:

11.

0349

NS

79.4

875

.77

1.01

77N

S

Fat

san

doi

ls25

19:3

7^

10:3

0.54

88N

S19

:34^

9:5

0.59

76N

S77

.48

77.3

60.

0208

NS

Su

gar

and

jag

ger

y30

23:1

0^

7:2

0.95

43N

S22

:75^

6:4

1.13

49N

S76

.99

75.8

40.

3404

NS

Notes:

aS

how

ing

com

par

ison

ofin

tak

ean

dR

DI;

*S

ign

ifica

nt

at5

per

cen

tle

vel

;*

*S

ign

ifica

nt

at1

per

cen

tle

vel

;N

S

Non

-sig

nifi

can

t;R

DI

Rec

omm

end

edd

ieta

ryin

tak

e(N

IN,

1998

)

Table V.Mean daily food intake of

four to five-years-oldpreschool children (boys

and girls)

Foodconsumption

pattern

137

boys, the difference was not significant. At the same time, intake of pulses by girls wasalso lower than the RDI but significant difference was not observed.

Roots and tubers. Boys were taking roots and tubers at a mean of 42.86 g/dayagainst its RDI intake of 100 g. Girls were consuming on average only 39.2 g of rootsand tubers daily but their intake did not differ significantly (p # 0:05).

Other vegetables. This group belongs to those vegetables which are not coveredunder green leafy vegetables and roots and tubers. Intake of other vegetables by boysand girls was less i.e. only 34.50 (69 per cent of RDI) and 49.49 g/day (98.9 per cent ofRDI), respectively. Daily consumption of other vegetables by girls was significantly(p # 0:05) higher than that of the boys.

Green leafy vegetables. Green leafy vegetables are rich sources of calcium, iron,b-carotene, vitamin C, riboflavin and folic acid but the quantity of green leafyvegetables consumed by boys and girls was almost similar and negligible. The intakeof green leafy vegetables was 1.94-1.96 per cent of the RDI.

Fruits. The mean intake of fruits i.e. 12.14 and 13.06 g/day among boys and girls,was almost similar and significantly (p # 0:05) less than the RDI. Their consumptionof fruits was only 12.14 per cent (boys) and 13.06 per cent (girls) of the RDI.

Milk and milk products. Daily mean intake of milk and milk products of boys andgirls i.e. 75.77-79.48 per cent of the RDI, did not differ significantly (p # 0:05).

Fats and oils. Both boys and girls were taking almost similar amounts of fat and oil(19.34-19.37 g) in daily diets, but their intake was lower than the recommended intake.Daily mean intake of fats and oils of boys and girls was 19.37 and 19.34 g/day,respectively which was less than the RDI (77.36 to 77.48 per cent of the RDI) in both thesexes.

Sugar and jaggery. Mean intake of sugar and jaggery of preschool children was23.10 g/day in boys and 22.75 g/day in girls against the recommended daily intake of25 g/day (NIN, 1998). Hence, both the boys and girls were taking similar but slightlyless amounts of this food group than recommended.

DiscussionOverall, wheat, the main cereal crop being produced in the northern part of India, was themost accepted cereal among all the families as its consumption was reported daily by100 per cent of the respondents. It is more acceptable due to its longer shelf life, easyavailability throughout the year and organoleptic acceptability. Pearl millet is alsocultivated in this state in the winter season and hence consumed in the winter seasononly. Another reason for its consumption in winter season is that it is considered to bevery hot because of it having a higher fat and starch content. Moreover, its flour becomesrancid within five to six days and more so in the summer season. Pulses were consumedweekly (66 per cent) or alternately (22 per cent) by most of the families as women remainbusy in agricultural operations and they cannot afford to spend much time in cooking ofpulses. Moreover, pulses are too expensive. Green leafy vegetables and other vegetableswere consumed on the basis of availability. They only use those green leafy vegetablesgrown in their fields and they do not purchase them from the market. Roots and tuberswere consumed frequently as they are inexpensive and plentiful. Potato is used by all thefamilies due to acceptance by all the family members and ease of availability. Most of thefamilies consumed fruits rarely as they do not want to purchase these from the marketbecause they are expensive. Most of the families rear milch animals (animals producingmilk) and they have a great liking for their milk and milk products. Families preferred to

BFJ108,2

138

take buffalos milk daily (93 per cent) over the cows milk (7.33 per cent) due to its higherfat content. Other milk products, except buttermilk, were not consumed frequentlybecause women are busy in agricultural operations and they do not have time for foodprocessing and preparation activities. The other milk product i.e. desi ghee (animal fat) isvery popular among rural families. The families had simple dietary habits preferring totake cereal, milk, butter milk, ghee and sugar. Their diets were deficient in protectivefoods such as leafy vegetables. Wide variations in the intake of various food groupsamong the respondents were due to differences in cropping patterns and the economicstatus of respondents. Similar results were also reported earlier by Chaudhary (1997)and Vashista (2002). Wheat, the main cereal group, and milk products were consumeddaily in the diet. The dietary surveys carried out by NNMB between 1994-96 also showedthat cereals and millets contribute to 60 per cent of the total diet and the intake of cerealwas about 75 per cent of the suggested dietary intake in Haryana state (Vijayaraghavanand Rao, 1998). Agarwal et al. (1999) reported that the diets of rural populations mostlycontain cereals and millets and are devoid of green leafy vegetables.

In India, various myths are also associated with foods such as hot and cold food.More than half of the respondents mothers (more than 50 per cent) believed some of thefoods (pearl millet, corn, some pulses, bathua and fenugreek leaves, onion, garlic,ginger, desi ghee and sweets) to be hot foods, either because they are calorie dense, aredifficult to digest or have pungency. Light foods, considered to be easily digestible,were given during febrile conditions or diarrhoea. In contrast to our study, Rachna(2002) reported that 60 per cent of the subjects were taking food as per advice of thedoctor in cases of illness and 10 per cent were taking foods that were available in theirhouse, this is mainly due to lack of awareness.

Because of the non-availability of some of the foods, poverty, religious factors andignorance, the daily mean intake of almost all the food stuffs, namely, cereals, pulses,roots and tubers, green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, fruits, fats and oils, milk andmilk products and sugar and jaggery was lower than the RDI among preschoolchildren but comparatively the intake of green leafy vegetables and fruits was thelowest. The findings of the present study corroborate with those of Vijayaraghavanand Rao (1998) and Nana et al. (2003) who revealed that daily intake of cereals, rootsand tubers, green leafy vegetables and fats and oils was lower than the RDI. Golderet al. (2001) reported lower intake of roots and tubers and other vegetables in diets ofpreschool children. Similarly, Jood et al. (2000) reported lower intake of fruits, sugarand jaggery and fats and oils by preschoolers. Intake of pulses, milk and milk productsand other vegetable was also reported lower than the RDI by Khosla et al. (2000),Timokhin et al. (1998) and Gronowska-Senger et al. (1998), respectively.

The long-term consequences of such a poor diet are well recognized (Thakar andPatil, 1990), hence, there is a need to impart nutrition education to families, especially tomothers, so that they can provide a well-balanced diet incorporating locally availableinexpensive nutritious food stuffs from each food groups to children. Nutrition shouldalso be included in the course curriculum of school children so as to establish soundfood habits among children for leading a healthy life in future.

References

Agarwal, K., Kushwah, A., Kushwah, H.S., Agarwal, R. and Rajput, L.D. (1999), Dietary analysisand assessment of nutritional status of preschool children of urban and rural population,Ind. J. Nutr. Dietet., Vol. 38, pp. 231-5.

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pattern

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Chaudhary, P. (1997), Studies on prevalence and causes of iodine deficiency disorders inendemic and non endemic areas of Haryana, PhD thesis, CCS, Haryana AgriculturalUniversity, Hisar.

Golder, A.M., Erhardt, J.G., Scherhaum, U., Mohammad, S., Biesalski, H.K. and Furst, P. (2001),Dietary intake and nutritional status of women and preschool children in the Republic ofMaldives, Public Health Nutr., Vol. 4 No. 3, pp. 773-80.

Gronowska-Senger, A., Drywien, M. and Hamulka, J. (1998), Evaluation of food consumptionand nutritional status of children at preschool and school age based on the literature in1980-1995, Rocz Panstw. Zakl. Hig., Vol. 49 No. 3, pp. 377-83.

Iyer, S.M. (1999), Childhood malnutrition impediment development, Yojana, Vol. 3, p. 33.

Jood, S., Bishnoi, S. and Sehgal, S. (2000), Nutritional status of rural pre-school children ofHaryana state, Ind. J. Pediatr., Vol. 67 No. 3, pp. 189-96.

Khosla, S., Singh, I. and Sangha, J. (2000), A study on nutrition profile of school children livingin urban slums of Ludhiana city, J. Res. Punjab Agri. Univ., Vol. 37 Nos 1-2, pp. 124-32.

Nana, C.P., Brouwer, I. and Traore, A.S. (2003), Food consumption of children 6-36 months old inrural area in relation to micronutrients rich foods availability, Human Nutr.Epidemiology, available at: www.univ.ouaga.Bf/fn.zouaga2003abstract

National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) (1998), Dietary Guidelines for Indians: A Manual, NIN,Hyderabad.

National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB) (1980), Dietary Survey and Methods, NIN,Hyderabad.

Panse, V.G. and Sukhatme, P.V. (1961), Statistical Methods of Agricultural Workers, 2nd ed.,Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, p. 12, 87.

Premakumari, S. and Devadas, R.P. (1990), Socio-cultural impact of the preschool feedingprogrammes, Ind. J. Nutr. Dietet., Vol. 27 No. 1.

Rachna, S. (2002), Assessment of nutritional status of pre-school children and nutritionalknowledge level of their mothers of Kaithal district (Haryana), MSc thesis, CCSHAU,Hisar.

Thakar, V. and Patil, J.A. (1990), A study on the nutritional status of children in theAnganwadis of Nagpur city, Ind. J. Nutr. Dietet., Vol. 27, pp. 82-90.

Timokhin, D.I., Istamin, A.V. and Mikhailov, I.G. (1998), Socio-hygienic aspects of optimisingthe nutrition of children in regions of the far North Gigiena, I. Sanitariya, Vol. 3, pp. 16-18.

Vashista, R. (2002), A study on dietary pattern and nutritional status of pre-schoolers ofMohindergarh district, MSc. thesis, CCSHAU, Hisar.

Vijayaraghavan, K. and Rao, H.D. (1998), Diet and nutrition situations in rural India, Ind.J. Med. Res., Vol. 108, pp. 243-53.

Corresponding authorN. Khetarpaul can be contacted at: nkhissar@sancharnet.in or neelamkhetarpaul@gmail.com

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