OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the food consumption during the week of twenty children at a nonprofit day care center, with that consumed at the weekend, based on the Brazilian Food Guide Pyramid for two to three year old children proposed by Philippi. METHODS: The social demographic evaluation was based on the following variables: income, educational level, housing and sanitation conditions. The food intake was measured by direct weighing of the food (in the day care center) and registry of the food consumed (at home), after three months attendance of the child at the day care center. The food and meals consumed by the children during the week and at the weekend were transformed into portions based on the eight corresponding food groups, according to Philippi. The average daily consumption of each food group, in portions, at the weekend, was then compared with that consumed on weekdays using the Student "t" test, considering a 5% significance level. RESULTS: A significant difference (p<0.05) was observed between the average number of portions of meat, legumes, vegetables and fruits consumed in the two periods evaluated. CONCLUSION: The results suggest inadequacy of the diet consumed by the children at the weekend when compared to that consumed during the week.
food consumption; child; food guide pyramid; child nutrition
