Food Sources of Total Energy, Total Sugars and Added Sugars Among Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers Living in Mexico: Findings from the 2012 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey
Authors: Deming Denise , Afeiche Myriam , Reidy Kathleen , Eldridge Alison , Villalpando‐Carrión Salvador 
Published: November 2023

Excessive usual energy intakes (total energy intake > 1.5SD above the estimated average energy requirement) have been reported for Mexican infants (14%), toddlers (33%), and preschoolers (14%). The consumption of energy dense, nutrient‐poor foods and beverages already begins in infancy and increases rapidly through age 3 years. To further understand the dietary intakes of young Mexican children, the food sources of total energy and sugars were examined, using data from a nationally representative sample of children ages 0–47.9 months (m) (n=2057) from the 2012 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT 2012). Dietary intake data from a single, proxy‐reported 24‐hour dietary recall for each child was assessed in infants 0–11 months (m) (n=411), toddlers 12–23m (n=538) and preschoolers 24–47m (n=1108). Per capita percentage contributions to intakes of total energy (TE), total sugars (TS), and added sugars (AS) were calculated for 1) major food groups (milks, grains, fruits, vegetables, meat/proteins, mixed dishes, sweets and sugar‐sweetened beverages (SSB)) and 2) specific foods and beverages. Overall, trends in major food group sources of TE and TS from ages 0–47m showed a decrease in the contribution of milks (from ~96 to 13%) and an increase in the contribution of sweets and SSB (from ~2 to 26%). Sweets and SSB contributed more than half of the AS intake during infancy (~54–66%) and increased to more than two thirds of AS intake among toddlers and preschoolers (~66–70%). Overall, the leading sources of TE and TS among infants were breast milk, infant formula, and also cow's milk in ages 6–11m; the top sources of AS were cookies, yogurt, sugar‐sweetened tea/coffee, fruit flavored drinks, and ice cream. Compared to infants, the diets of toddlers and preschoolers were more diverse. The major sources of TE were cow's milk, tortillas, soups, stews, egg dishes (mixed dishes), and sweetened breads. Cow's milk, fresh fruit, sugar‐sweetened tea/coffee and carbonated sodas were major contributors of TS. Overall, three to four of the top five food sources of AS were sweets and SSB contributing ~38% of total intake of AS for toddlers and ~30% for preschoolers. Yogurt and cow's milk were also among the top sources of AS, but unlike sweets and SBB, these foods provide key nutrients for young children and are major food sources of calcium and vitamin D in Mexican toddlers and preschoolers. These findings provide important insights into the consumption patterns of sweets and SSB and the key dietary sources contributing to intakes of energy and sugars. Understanding the dietary sources of energy and nutrients is critical in influencing the development of early dietary patterns and improving the diets and long term health of young Mexican children.

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Funded by Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.