Dietary Patterns and Feeding Behavior of Infants in Croatia: Findings from the National Food Consumption Survey on...

Background/Objectives: To prevent nutritional depletion and impaired weight status in infants, targeted public health policies and prevention programs based on scientific evidence are needed. This study provides an overview of the dietary patterns and feeding behavior of infants in Croatia as part of the National Food Consumption Survey on Infants and Children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted following the EU Menu methodology and included 322 healthy infants (54% boys; aged 3 months up to 12 months) from Croatia. Two-day dietary records were collected and analyzed using NutriCro 2.0 software. Results: The daily energy intake of infants was on average 886 ± 219 kcal, mainly from carbohydrates (47.0%), followed by fat (41.6%) and protein (9.9%). The main sources of energy and macronutrients were milk and dairy products, grains, grain products, potatoes and tubers and the fruit food group. One third of infants were breastfed, and more than 70% of infants were introduced to complementary foods. Parents started complementary feeding at the age of 5.37 ± 0.82 months, mostly with vegetables. Breastfeeding was associated with higher energy intake, especially in infants younger than 6 months, while formula feeding was associated with lower energy intake. The multivariate regression models showed age-related interactions that attenuated the patterns for energy and macronutrient intake. Conclusions: The study emphasizes that milk and dairy products are the main source of energy and macronutrients. The study highlights the important role of breastfeeding in promoting higher energy intake in early infancy and the decreasing effect of infant formula consumption with age. These results can be used as a basis for health policies, programs and strategies that address infant feeding habits in Croatia.