Background and aims: Dietary patterns in early childhood should contribute essential nutrients required for growth, and help establish lifelong dietary habits. This study describes the dietary patterns of 6-23.9mo Filipino children.  
Methods: The FITS is a cross-sectional, national survey of infants (6-11.9mo;n=350) and toddlers (12-23.9mo;n=714). Dietary data were collected using 24-hour recalls. Mean daily intakes and percentage consumption of food groups were calculated.   
Results: Sixty percent of infants consumed breastmilk compared to 37% of toddlers, while 35% of infants consumed formula, compared to 5% of toddlers. In general, rice consumption was high. Among toddlers, consumption of sweets was more prevalent than fruit and vegetables, with 20% consuming sugar-sweetened beverages. 
Table 1. Milk consumption.  
 	6-11.9mo (n=350) 	12-23.9mo (n=714)
	Mean/capita (g)	% consumption	 Mean/capita (g)	% consumption
Milks	390	99	235	89
     Any breastmilk 	336	60	182	37
     Any formula	39	35	7	5
     Fortified powdered milks    	11	13	19	31

Table 2. Complementary foods consumption.  
 	6-11.9mo (n=350) 	12-23.9mo (n=714)
Food Group	Mean/capita (g)	% consumption	Mean/capita (g)	% consumption
Grains 	49	86	83	99
     Rice	35	70	62	91
Fruit 	3	5	9	14
Vegetables 	2	11	6	28
Meat/Proteins  	6	25	26	65
Sweets  	11	44	33	63
     Sugar sweetened beverages 	3	7	14	20

Conclusion: The diversity of Filipino children’s diet is limited, with low consumption of fruit and vegetables and high consumption of rice and sugary foods. This data can be used to support the development of public health strategies to improve diet quality in early childhood.

FEEDING PATTERNS OF INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE PHILIPPINES: FINDINGS FROM THE FEEDING INFANTS AND TODDLERS STUDY (FITS) 2013