[Parenting] Food For Baby (12 - 24 Months)

 

Food For Baby (12 - 24 Months)

WHAT TO FEED 

• Fruits and veggies: 
• Repeated exposure to fruits and vegetables early in life can help young children learn to like them. Offer a variety of types and different colors. 
• Whole Grains: 
• Try foods like whole wheat bread and pastas or brown rice, which are rich in fiber and other key nutrients. 
• Healthy oils and fats: 
• Healthy fats are important for brain development. 
• Try deboned fish like salmon, tuna, or trout, or choose foods prepared with healthy oils, like olive, canola, corn, or sunflower oil. 
• Milk: 
• You can begin offering pasteurized whole milk after your child’s first birthday. Only offer plain milk with no added sugars. 
• Water: 
• Water is the best option to quench your child’s thirst. 

WHAT TO LIMIT 

• 100% fruit juice: 
• Offer fresh fruit instead. 
• If you decide to offer 100% fruit juice to your toddler, limit to no more than 4 ounces per day and offer it in a cup, not a bottle. 
• Foods high in sodium: 
• Your child’s taste preferences are still developing, and offering too many foods high in sodium – like packaged macaroni and cheese – at this age can teach them to prefer these foods for the rest of their lives. 

WHAT TO AVOID 

• Plant-based beverages: 
• Rice, almond, and other plant-based milks are not recommended for your toddler. 
• In the case of dairy allergies or intolerances, your pediatrician will work with you to find an alternative infant formula option. 
• Sugary drinks: 
• Avoid soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit drinks, energy drinks, and sweetened teas and flavored milks, like chocolate or strawberry, which contain added sugar. 
• Added sugars: 
• Added sugars are NOT recommended for children under two. Check nutrition labels to ensure no/zero added sugars are listed underneath “Total Sugars.” 
• Trans fats: 
• Foods high in trans fats – like French fries – are not recommended for young children.