Abstract

The main deficiencies in the diet of Bangladeshi infants and children are vitamin D, iron, and later, calories. Protein intake is a little low in some, but in general is satisfactory. Calcium and vitamin C intakes are adequate. The proportions of food are often inappropriate, mainly because of a high carbohydrate intake. Weaning tends to be late, with predominant milk drinking, even into the second year of life. Convenience baby foods, containing mainly carbohydrate are the major components of the diet until well into the second and third years of life, without the conversion to family food seen in white children. Vitamin D is given to fewer than half the children. It may be given to fewer still if the observation that bottles were often unopened is true for many families.