Early Childhood

Information for Professionals Who Work with Children: Nutrition

Kids who eat more fruits and vegis grow strong and healthy.

Children need a healthy diet to promote normal growth and development. The foods you offer and the food environment you create can make a big difference in babies’ and young children’s eating habits, food preferences and attitudes toward new foods.  

Guidelines

  • Be aware of, and avoid or modify, foods that are choking or swallowing hazards.
  • Provide healthy food choices at regular meal and snack times, then allow the child to decide how much to eat.
  • Never use foods to bribe, reward or punish a child.
Nutrition best practices

 

  • Mother’s milk is the baby’s first and healthiest food. Support new moms to breastfeed as long as they can and hold off introducing solids until the baby is at least 6 months of age.
  • Limit foods that are high in fat, sugar or sodium.
  • Serve no sugar-sweetened beverages.
  • Limit 100% juice to no more than 4-6 oz per day.
  • Serve only nonfat or low fat milk to children over 2 years old.
  • Introduce vegetables before fruits, so babies acquire a taste for veggies.
  • Introduce only one new food at a time, in order to identify potential food sensitivities.

Resources