ABSTRACT
Infants need more energy, iron and zinc as they grow, while requirements for protein and most vitamins and other minerals hardly change over this period. Infant nutrition surveys have shown that average fat intake is approximately 50% of energy intake in the first 4 months, prior to the introduction of solids. The current United Kingdom government recommendation on fat intake for infants is simply not to restrict fat in children under 2 years old. Obesity in infancy appears to be a risk factor for later obesity as does rapid infant growth. In terms of future cardiovascular health, it appears that lower intakes of trans fats and saturated fats in relation to higher intakes of polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats during late infancy are more important than the total amount of fat in the diet. Non-milk extrinsic sugars are extrinsic sugars that are not found in milk or milk products.
