babies begin acquiring eating habits from their first bites
of food and studies have concluded that by three years old,
most of a child’s eating preferences are established.
The message here is clear - if you want your child to have
healthy eating habits, it is important to focus on them early.
eating habits and food preferences is a learned process, like
sleeping through the night, potty training and other developmental
skills. For your child to learn, active involvement from parents
and caregivers is required, and it will take time. Ensuring
your child has the ability to make healthy food choices is
critical, and parents should set aside the time and devote
the energy to effectively teach children these skills.
babies, developing healthy eating habits does not mean dieting,
of course. Unless your baby’s diet is under the supervision
of a healthcare provider, it is not necessary to count calories
or choose low-fat or non-fat foods. Ensuring a healthy diet
for babies is simply a matter of providing them with a good
variety of healthy foods and limiting the consumption of most
processed foods. Along with introducing your baby to a wholesome
diet, here are some tips and activities that will support
developing healthy eating habits for your baby:
Be a good role model. Babies learn through mimicking
you and others around them. If you talk negatively about
fruits and vegetables or don’t eat them much yourself,
your baby will have a tough time accepting them. Remember,
your baby will respond to what you like.
Take your baby to the store or local farm stands. Begin
introducing your baby to different fruits and vegetables.
Teach him the names of different types of produce. Talk
to him about the wonderful colors, great smells and varied
Talk positively about vegetables and fruits. Let
your baby know what he is eating when you are feeding him,
what vitamins and minerals he is getting and how important
nutrients are for growing bigger and stronger.
Encourage drinking water. Water aids in digestion,
regulates body temperature, delivers nutrients to cells
and carries waste away. As your baby is introduced to solid
food, the need for water is greater. Offer your baby 2 to
4 ounces of water at each meal. Get in the habit of offering
water over juice.
Don’t give up. Babies’ tastes change
on a daily basis. Just because your baby spit out peas one
day does not mean he doesn’t like them. Unless he
has demonstrated an allergic reaction, try the food again
in a couple days – you may be pleasantly surprised.
Offer variety to ensure a balanced diet. All foods
contain different vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Eating
a variety of healthy foods will naturally lead to a balanced
diet. When your baby first starts eating, quantity is not
as important as variety.
Don’t be in a rush. Many babies are slow
eaters, and this is a good habit to encourage. Many of us
do not plan enough time to eat meals and often finding ourselves
shoveling food in –- this is one of the worst eating
habits that you can teach your baby. Instead, plan on of
plenty of time for meals so you and your baby can relax
and enjoy the experience.
Have a feeding schedule. Baby’s
have small tummies and fluctuating appetites, so four to
six mini meals in each day are recommended over three large
meals. Establishing set times for these meals will help
your baby learn a routine.
Never force babies to eat or finish all their food. Your
baby will eat when he is hungry. And he will eat the types
of food his body needs most. During meals allow him to eat
as much or little as he wants.
Make mealtimes a family event. Whenever it is practical,
the whole family should eat together. This will encourage
your baby to interact with others at mealtime and to begin
experiencing a sense of social interaction.
the authors: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers are sisters,
the mothers of five children, and founders of Fresh Baby (www.FreshBaby.com).
Raised by parents who love fresh foods and entertaining, their
mom, a gourmet cook, ensured that they were well-equipped
with extraordinary skills in the kitchen. Both with long track
records of business success, they decided to combine their
skills in the kitchen with their knowledge of healthy foods
and children to create Fresh Baby. Cheryl and Joan put a modern
twist on the conventional wisdom that when you make it yourself,
you know it’s better. Their goal at Fresh Baby is to
make the task of raising a healthy eater a little bit easier
for all parents. Fresh Baby’s breastfeeding accessories
and baby food making supplies provide parents with practical
knowledge and innovative tools to support them in introducing
their children to great tasting, all-natural foods –
easily and conveniently. Visit them online at www.FreshBaby.com
and subscribe to their Fresh Ideas newsletter to get monthly
ideas, tips and activities for developing your family's healthy