Development and evaluation of food-based dietary recommendations for New Zealand toddlers using linear and goal programming

We designed and evaluated food-based dietary recommendations for 12-24-mo-old New Zealand children with linear and goal programming models taking into account intakes of all nutrients concurrently.

Dietary data used to define model parameters (food list, food quantities consumed, and food consumption patterns from 3-d weighed food records) were collected from 12-24-mo-old New Zealand toddlers (n = 188). Linear and goal programming models were developed to design and evaluate three sets of recommendations: (1) using all foods consumed by toddlers; (2) excluding commercial infant/toddler foods; and (3) excluding both commercial infant/toddler foods and all iron-fortified foods.

Food-based dietary recommendations for toddlers were developed which aligned with observed food consumption patterns: Non-Sweet Cereals: 3 serves/d, Vegetables: 2 serves/d, Fruit: 2 serves/d, Dairy: 2 serves/d, and Meat/Fish/Poultry/Eggs/Legumes/Nuts: 2 serves/d. However, they only ensured adequate intakes of all nutrients modeled if ≈ 500 g/d of iron-fortified toddler milk was also recommended. Food-based dietary recommendations that excluded commercial infant/toddler foods or excluded both commercial infant/toddler foods and all iron-fortified foods would not ensure adequate intakes of iron and folate, for all children. The lowest intakes, in simulated intake distributions for these nutrients, were ≤ 29% and ≤ 38% of their nutrient reference values, respectively.

Food-based dietary recommendations which successfully promote the consumption of 3 serves/d of Non-Sweet Cereals, 2 serves/d of Vegetables, 2 serves/d of Fruit, 2 serves/d of Dairy (including ≈ 500 g/d of iron-fortified toddler milk), and 2 serves/d of Meat/Fish/Poultry/Eggs/Legumes/Nuts should ensure all New Zealand toddlers meet their requirements for the 15 nutrients modeled.