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When should your baby begin solid foods? Read the Journal of the American Medical Association recommendation.
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Bad eating habits are plaguing infants and toddlers, reports a survey by
Mathematica Policy Research for Gerber, which evaluated diets of more than 3,000
children aged 4 months to 24 months. Surprisingly, children in this age group are
overdosing on soft drinks, candy and other junk foods and not getting enough
fruits and vegetables. Some of the findings indicate:
- Children as young as 7 months are drinking soda.
- For toddlers 15 to 24 months, french fries are the most commonly consumed
vegetable.
- Nearly 25 percent of 19- to 24-month-old babies aren't eating one fruit or
vegetable in a day.
- Parents are ignoring feeding guidelines: 29 percent of infants eat solid
food before 4 months old and 17 percent drink juice before 6 months.
"Children are eating too many inappropriate foods for their age group, and most
of these foods are high in calories and low in nutrition," says Kathleen Reidy,
Dr.P.H., R.D., director of nutritional sciences at Gerber. Children usually form
food preferences between ages 2 and 3. Allowing them to eat unhealthfully when
they're infants could set them up for health conditions, including obesity.
To help your child eat nutritiously, offer strained, pureed or mashed fruits and
vegetables and yogurt, and milk, water or 100-percent juice when introducing new
solid foods. Also be a good role model. Ban junk food from home; offer a fruit or
vegetable with every meal; and stock up on nutritious snacks like yogurt, fruits
and vegetables.
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