Diet and nutritional status of Preschool children: A study of rural anganwadi children of Bhagalpur district of Bihar

growth and development (Craig, 1979). Diet and nutrition are important factors in the preschool (3-6 years) age. Preschool children represent 12 per cent of the general population in India. A large majority of these children live in rural and tribal areas and urban slums. Their development is in the interest of the total national development. The preschool age mortality in India is as high as 4.9 % of all deaths. This high mortality which is largely due to the malnutrit ion and infection is characteristics of this age group in underprivileged areas. The data on the morbidity of preschool children are scarce. In this age group, the children are usually victims of PEM accompanied by retarded growth and development. Survey indicates that the main morbidity problems are due to malnutrition. The importance of 3-6 years of life of children for their growth and development is well known. The concept of vulnerability calls for preventive care and special actions to meet the supplementary nutrition and dietary needs inherent in the process of human growth and development (Ghai, 2009).