Tulare County

A major source of vitamins and minerals in the diets of most U.S. children is their breakfast cereal, according to a study in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Researchers from the National Cancer Institute, USDA and Information Management Services, Inc., looked at the diets of 4000 children ages 2 to 18. They found that ready-to-eat cereal was a top contributor to overall intakes of vitamin A (22 percent), vitamin C (10 percent), iron (27 percent) and folacin (30 percent). This was because most breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamins and minerals and because children frequently eat breakfast cereal.

Vitamins A, C, and folacin, and the mineral iron are not naturally concentrated in grain products. Vitamin A is found in carrots, greens, pumpkin, apricots, cantaloupe, red peppers, sweet potatoes and liver among others. Vitamin C is found in many citrus fruits, melons, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, peppers, and tomato products. Folacin is harder to find--liver, dry beans, peas and lentils, orange juice and certain vegetables contain folacin. Iron is also difficult to get enough of--especially for younger children. Iron is found in liver, clams, oysters, red meats and dry beans, peas and lentils.

"It appears that breakfast cereals are acting as a dietary supplement as well as a food, even though nutritionists generally agree that individuals should get necessary nutrients from a variety of food groups rather than from vitamin and mineral supplements or fortified foods," says Amy Subar, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., lead author of the study.

Although parents should not use fortified breakfast cereals to make up for a poor diet, parents should compare labels when choosing a breakfast cereal. All cereals are not created equal. A few cereals have almost no fortification and some are fortified at 100 percent or more of the Daily Value for selected vitamins and minerals. A few are fortified with calcium. These would be good for children who can't or don't eat many dairy foods. Again, children aged 1 to 6 often have a hard time getting enough iron in their diet. Parents can choose a breakfast cereal with 45 percent or more of the Daily Value for iron.

The study also found that American children are eating a lot of foods such as soft drinks, sugars and sweet baked goods--foods that don't offer much nutritionally. Cereal was also the main source of fiber, followed closely by potatoes and tomatoes (potatoes due to the frequent intake of French fries, and tomatoes due to catsup and tomato sauces).

The researchers indicate that while breakfast cereals, especially non-sugary ones, can be a healthy addition to a balanced diet, parents should not depend on fortified foods in order to feed their children well. Furthermore, they suggest that fortified cereals should not be a substitute for eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, milk, whole grains and other foods that are necessary for good health.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, Pediatrics (October 1998); Good Sources of Nutrients, UCCE.