OBJECTIVE: To characterize the alimentary profile of under-five year old children in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil, according to geographical area (metropolitan region of Recife, urban inland, rural inland), the child's age and sex, family income and mother's schooling. METHODS: Cross-sectional home based study with a stratified sample of 969 under-five year old children. Food consumption was registered by a 24-hour recording method. The chi-square test was used to verify the association between food consumption and the studied variables. RESULTS: The most consumed food items (30% of the children) in the State of Pernambuco were: milk, sugar, fat, rice, beans and meat. There were statistically significant differences between the consumption of most food items and geographical area, child's age, family income and mother's schooling. There was no significant difference between the consumption foods and the child's sex. CONCLUSION: The food consumption by under-five year old children in the State of Pernambuco, although presenting some differences in the studied variables, was generally monotonous, with little diversification. It was basically made up of a lacteous diet, with a high intake of sugar and fats and low intake of fruits and vegetables.
foods; food consumption; child; preschool; weaning; milk; human
