Nutritional status of rural pre-school children of Haryana state

The present investigation was conducted on 90 rural pre-school children (1-3 years) in summer and winter from arid (Bhiwani), semi-arid (Hisar) and wet (Kurukshetra) zones of Haryana State, India. Mean daily food intake of cereals, pulses, green leaf vegetables, other vegetables, roots and tubers, milk products, fats and oils, sugar and jaggery and fruits was found lower than their respective recommended dietary intake (RDI) in summer season whereas in winter season mean daily food intake of milk and milk products provided 6, 7, and 32 per cent more than RDI in the diets of pre-schoolers of Hisar, Bhiwani and Kurukshetra zones, respectively, Similar trend was also found in nutrient intakes. Mean height and weight of few children were found lower in Hisar and Bhiwani and higher in Kurukshetra compared to their reference values. On the basis of weight for age and height for age criteria as well as clinical examinations, majority of children were found normal in Kurukshetra.