Babies
Healthy Habits Start Early
By
Oct 16, 2005, 23:11

(NAPSI)-Moms worry about their toddlers not eating enough or not eating the right variety of fruits and vegetables-and for good reason-the most popular vegetable at 15 months is the French fry. Eating habits are learned early, so it's important to teach your toddler the healthy habit of enjoying colorful fruits and vegetables every day. According to the Start Healthy Feeding Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers, which address nutritional needs of children under two, encouraging healthy eating habits from the start may help prevent childhood obesity and other related diseases later in life. The guidelines were developed by a panel of experts in pediatrics and nutrition assembled with help from the American Dietetics Association and sponsored by Gerber.

Toddlers are notoriously picky eaters. The Start Healthy Feeding Guidelines suggest letting your toddler decide for herself whether to eat and how much; your job is to make sure to offer a variety of healthful foods. Be sure to include some favorite foods along with some new foods. It can take an amazing 10 to 15 exposures for a baby to accept a new food. More than half of surveyed moms give up after the baby rejects a new food three or fewer times. So try, try again-and then keep trying.

Products designed specifically for toddlers can make adding colorful fruits and vegetables to your toddler's diet easy and convenient. Here are a few tips to boost the nutritional value of your toddler's diet with colorful fruits and vegetables. Visit Gerber's Web site www.Gerber.com for many more.

Remember to set a good example. Most adults and moderately active teens need about five cups of colorful fruits and vegetables every day. For more nutrition information, tips, and recipes featuring fruits and vegetables visit www.5aday.org.

© Copyright by EveningsNews.com