The objective of this article was to describe and analyze sources of variation in the dietary intakes of children aged 6 to 30 months. The data was obtained from two 24-hour recall surveys of a sample of 383 children of both sexes in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Age and the food insecurity scale, which was used as a proxy to characterize socioeconomic differences, were considered. The analysis was based on food groups. The ratio of the coefficients' variation was calculated, and the crude and de-attenuated relative means for energy and macro- and micronutrients were estimated. In addition, the number of 24-hour recall replications was also estimated. Age and food insecurity had significant impacts on the average number of servings of food groups. The coefficients of variation ratios for most nutrients were < 1, except for vitamin C and for children in the younger age group. The number of 24-hour recall required ranged from 1 to 6 days and was higher for vitamin C.
Food Consumption; Diet Surveys; Child
