Abstract

This study was conducted to assess dietary pattern and dietary diversity of preschool children by investigating their food consumption. To accomplish this, dietary intake survey (24 hour-recall food diary) was administered to 508 children aged between 4 to 6 years old from 4 kindergartens in the Daegu area (415 were completed). By using CAN pro 3.0 for professionals, the dietary patterns and dietary diversity scores of each food group were examined by age and sex. Data were analyzed with SPSS 12.0, and chi-square t-test and Anova test, and Duncan's multiple range test used for verifying significance. For 4~5- year-old group, boys had significantly more fruit and meats than girls (p<0.05), but girls had more dairy food than boys with no ignificance. For 6-year-old group, boys had significantly more foods, milk and dairy foods than girls (p<0.05), and also boys had more vegetables and fruit than girls with no significance. For DDS (Dietary Diversity Score), the score of 6-year-old group was significantly higher than that of younger children (p<0.05) and the older the age was, the higher the score was. Dietary Pattern (GMVFD) was verified by 8 types, and the ratio of taking all five food groups (GMVFD = 11111) of the 6-year-old group was 48.8%. Children with older ages had more various foods than younger ones (p<0.05). In addition, the ratio of taking less than the minimal intake of dairy foods of girls (48.1%) was higher than that of boys (41.3%). As results, unbalanced diet, overeating and not eating unbalanced diet were revealed as the problematic dietary habits among preschool children, and those habits may change positively with knowledge on nutrition grow on. Therefore, nutritional characteristics and importance of preschool children should be taught to parents and caregivers, and it must be practical and ready to use in cooking for these children to healthy dietary habits.

• Keywords: dietary pattern; dietary diversity; preschool children; dietary habit; food intake