Determination of protein content in cooked foods consumed by toddlers aged 1-2 years in Sri Lanka

In early life, protein deficiency as well as heavy protein intake cause adverse conditions. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the protein adequacy of diets in 1-2-year-old toddlers in the Alawwa Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka. Data on food consumption was obtained by 24-hour dietary recall method from selected caregivers (n=60) andcommonly consumed foods (n=30) were cooked using household preparation protocols practiced in the area. They were homogenized and analyzed for protein. The majority of toddlers among the selected population consumed rice-based meals (73%) as the main meal (cooked rice with vegetable accompaniments), while 27% preferred mixed diets (a mixture of vegetables, pulses, leafy vegetables and fish along with rice). A serving of commercial cereal products provided the highest estimateddaily intake (EDI) of protein (10.70 ± 0.40 g). The average EDI of protein of all categories of foods per portion (rice, vegetables, pulses, green leaves, fish, eggs, rice mixtures and cereal products) was 31.55 ± 0.88 g, contributing to the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 242.64% and 150.17% for 1-2 year toddlers as defined by the Department of Agriculture, United States (USDA) and Sri Lankan RDA defined by Medical Research Institute (MRI), respectively. In conclusion, the cooked foods prepared according to local recipes fulfilled the dietary requirements of protein for toddlers aged 1-2 years in the Alawwa MOH area following USDA and Sri Lankan nutrition guidelines. Keywords: Estimated Daily Intake, Protein, Recommended Dietary Allowance, Toddlers