Researchers in northern Ghana studied what 243 children between ages 2 and 5 eat and how their diet connects to their health. They found that most kids eat vegetables and sweet snacks regularly, but fewer eat fruits. Interestingly, children from families struggling to afford food were more likely to eat all types of foods studied. The study suggests that helping families give their young children more fruits and vegetables while limiting sugary drinks and salty snacks could improve children’s nutrition and overall health.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: What foods young children in northern Ghana eat during a typical week and whether eating certain foods connects to better health and nutrition
  • Who participated: 243 children aged 2 to 5 years old from both city and village areas in two districts of northern Ghana. About half of the children also had their height, weight, and blood tested to check their nutrition levels
  • Key finding: Most children eat vegetables (98%) and sweet snacks (81%) regularly, but only about half drink sugary beverages and eat salty snacks. Children from families with less money for food were actually more likely to eat all these foods, which was surprising to researchers
  • What it means for you: If you work with young children or have young children in your family, this research suggests that encouraging more fruits and vegetables while limiting sugary drinks and snacks could help children grow healthier. However, this study shows what children eat, not whether changing their diet actually improves their health

The Research Details

Researchers visited households in northern Ghana and asked parents questions about what their 2-5 year old children ate during the past week. They used a questionnaire based on a tool created by the World Health Organization. The study included both urban areas (cities) and rural areas (villages) to get a complete picture. For some children, researchers also measured their height and weight and took blood samples to check for signs of poor nutrition like anemia (low iron) and vitamin deficiencies. This type of study is called ‘cross-sectional’ because researchers collected all the information at one point in time, like taking a snapshot, rather than following children over months or years.

Understanding what young children actually eat in Ghana is important because poor diet quality can lead to multiple nutrition problems at the same time—some children may be too thin while others are overweight, and many lack important vitamins and minerals. By studying real eating patterns in real communities, researchers can design better programs to help families feed their children healthier foods. This approach captures the complexity of nutrition in low-income settings where families may struggle to afford healthy foods.

This study has several strengths: it included children from both cities and villages, used a standardized questionnaire based on WHO guidelines, and measured actual health markers like blood tests in some children. However, the study only looked at 243 children in one region of Ghana, so results may not apply everywhere. The study relied on parents remembering what their children ate, which can be inaccurate. The study also only looked at one point in time, so we cannot tell if eating patterns cause health problems or if health problems cause eating pattern changes

What the Results Show

In a typical week, nearly all children (98%) ate vegetables, most (81%) ate sweet snacks, and three-quarters (76%) ate fruits. About half consumed salty snacks (50%) and sugary drinks (46%). On average, children ate vegetables most frequently at about 8 servings per week, followed by sweet snacks at about 3 servings, sugary drinks at about 3 servings, fruits at about 2 servings, and salty snacks at about 1 serving per week. These numbers show that while vegetables are common, fruits are eaten less often than recommended by health guidelines. Sweet snacks and sugary drinks are eaten more frequently than health experts recommend for young children. Interestingly, children from families experiencing food insecurity (difficulty affording enough food) were more likely to eat all types of foods measured in the study, which was unexpected. This may mean that when families struggle financially, they buy whatever affordable foods are available, including less healthy options.

The study found few clear connections between what children ate and their measured health status (height, weight, blood iron levels, and vitamin levels). This suggests that other factors besides diet—such as infections, access to clean water, or overall living conditions—may be equally important for children’s nutrition and health. The lack of strong connections could also mean that the study was too small or that diet’s effects on health take longer to develop than the study could measure

This study adds to existing research showing that children in low-income countries often have diets that don’t match health recommendations. Previous studies have shown that poor diet quality contributes to malnutrition in children, but this study provides specific data about what children in northern Ghana actually eat. The finding that food-insecure families consume more of all food types is somewhat surprising and suggests that food insecurity in this region may work differently than in other places, possibly because families buy whatever affordable foods are available regardless of quality

The study only included 243 children from two districts in northern Ghana, so the results may not apply to other regions of Ghana or other countries with different food systems and cultures. Only about half the children had blood tests done, so conclusions about nutrition status are based on fewer children. Parents reported what their children ate from memory, which can be inaccurate—people often forget or misremember food amounts. The study only looked at one week of eating, which may not represent typical patterns throughout the year when different foods are available. The study could not prove that diet causes health problems because it only looked at one point in time; it’s possible that children with health problems eat differently because of their illness

The Bottom Line

Health workers and families in Ghana should work to increase fruits in children’s diets to meet WHO recommendations (moderate confidence, based on this study’s design). Reducing sugary drinks and sweet snacks for young children is advisable based on general nutrition science (moderate to high confidence). Programs should focus on making fruits and vegetables more affordable and available to families, especially those with limited food budgets (moderate confidence). These recommendations should be combined with efforts to improve overall living conditions, water quality, and healthcare access, as diet alone may not solve all nutrition problems (moderate confidence)

Parents and caregivers of young children in Ghana and similar low-income settings should pay attention to these findings. Healthcare workers, nutrition programs, and government food policies in Ghana should use this information to design better nutrition programs. Families with limited budgets should know that even small increases in fruit and vegetable intake may help. However, these findings are specific to northern Ghana and may not apply to other regions or countries with different food systems. Wealthy families with plenty of food choices may need different advice focused on limiting unhealthy foods rather than increasing access

Changes in children’s nutrition status from diet improvements typically take weeks to months to show up in blood tests and growth measurements. Parents might notice improved energy and fewer infections within 2-4 weeks of better nutrition. Visible improvements in growth and weight gain usually appear within 2-3 months of consistent better nutrition. Long-term benefits like better school performance and adult health develop over years

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily servings of fruits and vegetables separately for each child, with a goal of reaching 5+ servings of vegetables and 2+ servings of fruits per week. Record the specific types of fruits and vegetables to identify which ones are most available and affordable in your area
  • Use the app to set a weekly goal for fruit servings (start with 2-3 per week if currently lower) and identify one affordable local fruit to add to your child’s diet each week. Set a reminder to offer this fruit at a specific meal or snack time daily
  • Weekly check-in: count total fruit and vegetable servings consumed and compare to previous weeks. Monthly review: track which fruits and vegetables were most frequently eaten and which were easiest to afford. Every 3 months: assess whether sugary drink consumption has decreased and note any changes in your child’s energy level or health

This research describes eating patterns and nutrition in one region of Ghana and should not be used to diagnose or treat any health condition. The study does not prove that diet changes will improve children’s health, only that diet patterns and health status are related. Parents concerned about their child’s nutrition, growth, or health should consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian who can assess their individual child’s needs. This information is educational and should not replace professional medical advice. Nutrition needs vary by individual child based on age, activity level, health status, and other factors