Food consumption of young stunted and non-stunted children in rural Zambia.

This cross-sectional study assessed the quality of diet of rural Zambian pre-school children and compared the diet of stunted and non-stunted children. A total of 205 children were included in this study from whom anthropometric measurements were taken and concerning whom a 24-hour recall questionnaire was administered. The results demonstrated that daily intake of energy protein calcium iron and vitamin A from weaning foods was an insufficient supplement to the assumed breast milk intake in infants in order to meet the requirements needed for their body maintenance and growth. Compared to intake from weaning foods breast milk was the main source of energy and most nutrients for infants. However for toddlers weaning foods were more important. It was observed that stunted infants and toddlers tended to have lower energy intakes from weaning foods though not statistically significant in comparison to non-stunted age-mates. Daily energy intake per kg of body weight showed no difference between stunted and non-stunted children.