Nutritional status of Head Start and nursery school children. I. Food intake and anthropometric measurements.

Food intakes and anthropometric measurements of Head Start and nursery school children were compared in the fall and spring. Meals consumed at Head Start improved low calcium and ascorbic acid intakes. Iron intakes were low among both groups of children during both seasons. All children had high protein intakes in the fall and spring. Nursery school children consumed high levels of calcium and ascorbic acid and received more vitamin and mineral supplements. Anthropometric measurements indicated adequate and similar growth for all children during each season. Dietary intakes of mothers were less satisfactory than those of their children. Head Start mothers had the poorest diets, with frequent low intakes of energy, calcium, iron, vitamin A, ascorbic acid, riboflavin, and thiamin. Iron was the nutrient needed most by both groups of mothers. Nursery school mothers had especially high intakes of ascorbic acid, and consumed more vitamin and mineral supplements than Head Start mothers.