The nutritional constituints of the food offered to pre-school children at one Beneficent Institution in Manaus, AM, was determined as well as its nutrient adequacy ratio. Duplicate food samples were collected at (breakfast, lunch and snacks) and chemically analyzed. The most frequently consumed foods were beans (25,1%), milk with coffee (19.9%), tea/juice/ soda (13,9%) and rice (10,3%). Protein and energy adequacy was 126,1% and 32,42% respectively, considering the needs for the age group of 1 to 3 years, and 84% and 23,4% for the 4 to 6 years group. The amount of fiber total in the diet was low (5,6 g/dia). The Cu and Na adequacy was 431.8% and 293.6% and 512% and 384% respectively, considering the needs for the age group and the Ca, Zn and Fe was inferior to 50%.
diet; nutrition; centesimal composition