Toddler foods and milks don't stack up against regular foods and milks

Jennifer McCann; Kelsey Beckford; Holly Beswick; Melanie Chisholm; Julie Woods

doi:10.1186/s12937-022-00765-1

Toddler foods and milks don't stack up against regular foods and milks

Nutr J. 2022 Feb 25;21(1):12. doi: 10.1186/s12937-022-00765-1.

Authors

Jennifer McCann¹, Kelsey Beckford², Holly Beswick³, Melanie Chisholm⁴, Julie Woods⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. j.mccann@deakin.edu.au.
² Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
³ VACCHO, Collingwood, Australia.
⁴ Victorian Department of Health, Melbourne, Australia.
⁵ Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Geelong, Australia.

Abstract

Aim: To compare the cost and nutritional profiles of toddler-specific foods and milks to 'regular' foods and milks.

Methods: Cross-sectional audit of non-toddler specific ('regular') foods and milks and secondary analysis of existing audit data of toddler specific (12-36 months) foods and milks in Australia.

Main findings: The cost of all toddler-specific foods and milks was higher than the regular non-toddler foods. Foods varied in nutritional content, but toddler foods were mostly of poorer nutritional profile than regular foods. Fresh milk cost, on average, $0.22 less per 100 mL than toddler milk. Toddler milks had higher mean sugar and carbohydrate levels and lower mean protein, fat, saturated fat, sodium and calcium levels per 100 mL, when compared to fresh full fat cow's milk.

Conclusions: Toddler specific foods and milks cost more and do not represent value for money or good nutrition for young children.

Keywords: Cost; Nutrition; Public health; Toddler.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Australia
Cattle
Child, Preschool
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Milk*
Sodium*

Substances

Sodium