Bromatological characteristics of the diet of preschool children

Throughout the human life cycle, individuals pass through various stages, from birth and childhood to adolescence, adulthood, and old age. The science of food and nutrition emphasizes that all nutrients, including both macronutrients and micronutrients, are required at each of these stages; however, the recommended daily intake varies according to the specific stage of life. Research in this field consistently indicates that an individual’s health depends on an adequate intake of nutrients. Since children are a particularly vulnerable group, considerable attention must be devoted to both the quality and quantity of their diet.People’s dietary patterns have changed over time, primarily as a result of significant evelopments in the economy, technology, agricultural production, ransportation, mass communication, and urbanization. These developments have led to changes in food supply, distribution, production, and  preparation, consequently affecting the quality of people’s diets and their eating habits.Several centuries ago, people’s diets were characterized by the consumption of foods rich in complex carbohydrates and dietary fibre, as well as substantial amounts of fruit and vegetables. In contrast, the diet of modern populations in much of the world is characterized by a high intake of foods rich in animal fats and refined simple sugars, alongside a low intake of foods containing dietary fibre and complex carbohydrates.The first nutritional guides developed in the United States between 1916 and 1930, entitled Food for Young Children and How to Select Food, included recommendations for the selection of “protective foods”.