The possibility of evaluating the feeding of the preschool child by measuring the family intake averages obtained by two processes was here studied. A sample of 54 families and 85 preschool children aged 2 to 7 years belonging to two cities of the State of S. Paulo was used. The children were divided into two groups, according to the child/adult relationship in each family. The dietary data refering to the children and families were obtained by applying the record dietary method combined with the recall method during 24 hours. The results of the individual intake of the preschool children and the mean family intake obtained were compared within each family. It was shown that in order to discover the preschool individual intake of nutrients it is necessary to carry out individual dietary surveys. However, for population group studies it is possible to use the average per "equivalent-child" for total proteins and calcium, whatever the family composition. As regards the other nutrients the results suggest the utilization of the family mean or the "equivalent-child", according to the family composition.
Food; Preschool children; School Health
