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Purpose: Validated methods to assess diet of non-European infants are sparse. We assessed the validity and reliability of a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for South Asian infants in Canada.Methods: We developed an 80-item FFQ to assess infant nutrient intake in the South Asian Birth Cohort study (START). Caregivers completed the FFQ twice along with two 24-hour diet recalls. We measured infant plasma ferritin to cross-validate reported iron intake. We evaluated validity using Spearman’s rho (ρ), and reliability using the intraclass correlation coefficient.Results: Seventy-six caregivers provided 2 FFQs and 2 24-hour diet recalls. Energy-adjusted, de-attenuated correlations between the FFQs and 24-hour diet recalls ranged from −0.29 (monounsaturated fat) through 1.00 (cholesterol). The FFQ overestimated energy intake by 128%. Iron intake by 24-hour diet recalls correlated with plasma ferritin (r = 0.41; P = 0.01; n = 37), but iron intake by FFQ did not. The average reproducibility coefficient of the FFQ ranged from 0.24 (macronutrients) to 0.65 (minerals).Conclusions: Among South Asian infants living in Canada, at least 2 days of diet recall completed with the primary caregiver yields more valid and reproducible estimates of nutrient intakes than a semi-quantitative FFQ, and it highlights that careful selection of FFQ portion sizes is important for assessing dietary intake with an FFQ.

Caregivers of children requiring tube feeding show growing interest in real-food containing formula, including home-blenderized tube feeding (HBTF) and commercial real-food containing formulas (CRFCF). This study aimed to understand caregivers’ perceptions of both. Caregivers using real-food containing tube feeding were recruited through the Feeding Tube Awareness Foundation Facebook group. A 13-question online survey asked about use of HBTF and CRFCF, beliefs about their choices, and what resources guided formula use. Forty-one completed the survey, with mean child age of 7 years. Overall, 54% (n = 22) used HBTF formulas, 34% (n = 14) CRFCF, and 12% (n = 5) used both. For 70% (n = 29), presence of whole foods, nutritional completeness, and natural ingredients were most important. Challenges with CRFCF use included lack of variety (n = 10, 53%) and cost (n = 9, 47%). HBTF challenges were difficulty preparing away from home (n = 19, 70%) and need for special blenders (n = 15, 56%). Participants believed CRFCF are convenient (n = 35, 85%) and nutritionally consistent (n = 25, 61%), but do not contain enough real-food ingredients (n = 26, 63%). Facebook or other social media was the most valued resource guiding formula use (n = 25, 61%). Caregivers desire formulas that are nutritionally complete and made of whole foods. CRFCF offers convenience and consistency, yet caregivers prefer more real-food ingredients.

Purpose: To investigate dairy and plant-based dairy alternatives (DPBDA) purchasing habits, including comparisons among locations of purchase and among subtypes of DPBDA, of families with preschool-aged children.Methods: Expenditures on food and DPBDA were calculated using grocery and food receipts collected for 3 weeks from 51 households in and around Guelph, Ontario, Canada. DPBDA were coded by subtypes (alternatives, cheese/yogurt, cow’s milk, cream, and ice cream/other) and by locations of purchase, which were coded as big-box, discount, high-end, local/other, and midrange stores. Logistic regression using generalized estimating equations was used to investigate odds of purchasing DPBDA by location of purchase. All models included family income and number of children as potential confounders.Results: Ninety-eight percent of families purchased cheese/yogurt, 92% purchased cow’s milk, and 35% of families purchased plant-based dairy alternatives. Families were more likely to purchase DPBDA from big-box stores than discount, midrange, or local/other stores (P < 0.01) and were more likely to purchase cheese/yogurt than dairy alternatives, cream, or ice cream/other subtypes (P < 0.01). Odds of purchasing were not different between cheese/yogurt and cow’s milk.Conclusion: Families’ DPBDA purchasing habits differ by purchase location and subtype. Further research is warranted to understand the factors affecting these purchasing habits.