PROTEINS NUTRITION ASSESSMENT OF CHILDREN AGED 1–3 YEARS

Abstract

Introduction. Rational nutrition is one of the key factors ensuring a child’s health and harmonious development not only in early childhood but also in later stages of life. An insufficiently balanced diet can lead to deviations in a child’s growth and development, persistent metabolic changes that continue into adulthood, and an increased risk of diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, etc.The aim of the study. To determine the dietary characteristics and physical development of children aged 1–3 years in order to optimize their nutrition.Research Methods. The study involved healthy children aged 1 to 3 years living in Ternopil and the Ternopil district. A total of 72 healthy young children were examined. The data were collected using a questionnaire-based survey of pediatricians, family doctors, and parents Results and Discussion. The children’s diet showed a significant excess of recommended intake levels for hard cheese—by 1.5–2.5 times—and fruit juices—by 1.3–3 times. Most children did not receive specialized milk formulas ("third formulas") both in the city (63.3%) and in district 1 (80.9%) and district 2 (76.1%), respectively.The daily food intake met the recommended age norms in only 31.9% of the examined children (23 children). Insufficient food intake was found in 16.7% of cases, while more than half of the children (51.8%) overate daily.Overeating was particularly common among children in their second year of life, occurring in 50.0% of cases.Conclusions. The nutrition of children aged 1–3 years is characterized by an imbalance in protein intake due to dietary regimen violations, overeating, and excessive protein consumption compared to the recommended age norms.