Feeding your 1 year-old (2)

      In a previous article I discussed how to transition your child into eating regular foods. In it, I mentioned that the choices that parents make in the first two years of life can give their children the gift of healthy eating habits for the rest of their life. Between six months and one year, breast milk and formula are still used, but they are given between meals. The main nutrition for infants is moved to solid food. During this time, begin the habit of feeding the infant fresh fruits and vegetables, no juice, no processed meats (hot dogs, lunch meat), no trans-fats and no foods that contain added sugar, corn syrup or fructose. At one year of age, all bottles – night-time, nap-time, any time – become only water - no juice, no milk. It is thought that the high carbohydrate diet we feed our toddlers is contributing to both the epidemic of obesity and the epidemic of diabetes in this country.  From one year of age on, develop the habit of coming to the kitchen to eat (no eating in other rooms of the house), sitting down with the family and having the meal together. Feed him what you are eating. Don't worry about likes or dislikes - one day he'll love peas and the next day he'll hate them. Put everything on the tray and let him eat what he wants - just like you do. As soon as more food is hitting the floor than hitting the mouth, he is done eating and you pull him out of the highchair. No "clean plate" rules. He can have a glass of milk with meals, but don’t give it to him until he is well into his meal. If your child gets hungry between meals, go back to the kitchen, sit down and give him some fresh fruit and a glass of water. If he wants a bottle to use as a pacifier at nap-time, make sure it is only water. Avoid all juice, fruit snacks, crackers, cheese slices and, most important, don’t teach your child that he needs to have sugar going into his mouth in all day long. Toddlers snack between meals, but go back to the kitchen each time and give a healthy snack - avoid the "juice-and-snack-all-day" habit. Especially avoid giving anything but water one hour before meals.

     Every parent should read about Metabolic Syndrome because it is the key to understanding the epidemic of obesity in this country. In essence, it is a change that occurs in the body’s basic way of metabolizing food when the person has consumed a diet low in fiber and high in trans-fats, refined carbohydrates like fructose, added sugar and processed foods. Once this change occurs, the child is on the road to a lifetime of obesity, diabetes and health problems. Don’t be fooled by package claims of “organic” and “natural” – these terms have become marketing tools and have ceased to have much meaning. Always read the labels.
     You set the healthy eating habits for your child and doing it from the start makes it easier. Limit the fatty foods, eat breakfast daily and limit eating at restaurants, particularly fast-food restaurants. Eat meals together as a family; limit portion size and don't use food as a reward. "You acted good - we'll spend some time at the park today" beats "You acted good  - I'll buy you a Happy Meal". Finally, It is clear that the more time a child spends in front of a screen, the greater the risk of obesity. Turn off the electronics.
     Good health and normal metabolism also come from a habit of regular exercise. Having a toddler is an excellent opportunity for parents to exercise and doing things with your child is good for everyone. Children do what their parents do – not what their parents tell them they should do.