Table 1.
Examples of diet plans for the three intervention groupsa.
| Food item | Protein | Calorie | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Total calorie needs | ~650 kcal/d | |
| Total protein (2.5 g/kg/d) | 21 g/d | 84 kcal/d | |
| Formula (not restricted) | Formula 18 ounces | 9 g/d | 400 kcal/d |
| Dairy groupb | 1 Yogurt (Yobaby®) | 4 g/d | 80 kcal/d |
| Cheese (shredded) (Horizon®) | 6.5 g/d | 80 kcal/d | |
| Others (e.g., 1 Beech Nut® zucchini and banana blend; or one servicing of fortified rice cereal) | 1 g/d | ||
| Meat groupb, c | 1.5 jar of ham and gravy (Gerber®) | 10 g/d | 80 kcal/d |
| Others (e.g., 1 Beech Nut® zucchini and banana blend; or one servicing of fortified rice cereal) | 1 g/d | ||
| Plant groupd | 1.5 vegetable pouch (e.g., Ella's kitchen® four bean feast) | 5 g/d | 90 kcal/d |
| 1.5 vegetable pouch (e.g., Earth's best® spinach lentil) | 5 g/d | 50 kcal/d | |
| Others (e.g., 1 Beech Nut® zucchini and banana blend; or one servicing of fortified rice cereal) | 1 g/d | ||
| Reference group | No restriction (observational group and will follow standard of care) |
These estimates are based on an exclusively formula-fed 9-month-old female with a 8.5 kg body weight which is ~60th percentile weight-for-age.
Both Dairy and Meat groups are advised to avoid plant foods of relatively high protein contents (a list will be provided). Cheese will be shredded before providing to the infant.
The Meat group is allowed to have fish. However, commercial fish-based infant foods are very rare and if parents choose to feed home-made fish to the participants, they will record the time, type and amount.
Both dairy- and plant-based complementary foods have low iron content. Participants in all intervention groups are advised to consume one serving of iron-fortified cereal per day to meet their iron needs.