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Starting Nutritious Habits
Posted: Jan. 1, 2006
Kids can get a start on a heart-healthy future before they even learn to crawl, according to new dietary recommendations for children and adolescents released by the American Heart Association.
Previous dietary recommendations by the American Heart Association were not intended for children under age 2, who need a higher percentage of fat in their diet to support their growth.
The new guidelines provide guidance for this age and suggests feeding babies breast milk exclusively for the first four to six months of life, and continue breastfeeding through the first year. Physicians should identify infants who are rapidly gaining weight or exceeding the 95th percentile to help correct overfeeding if present.
Is your child starting solids?
As solid foods are introduced, the panel suggests that parents:
- Do not overfeed infants
- Do introduce healthy foods repeatedly (even if they’re initially refused)
- Do not feed foods that have calories without other nutritional benefits
- Delay offering juice until at least six months and then limit the quantity to no more than 4 to 6 ounces a day
A one-year-old child needs two cups of milk a day, along with 1.5 ounces of lean meat or beans, 1 cup of fruit, 3/4 cup of vegetables, and two ounces of grains, according to the statement.
Planning a healthy diet
Key recommendations for children age 2 and older are:
- Balance dietary calories with physical activity to maintain normal growth
- Get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily
- Eat vegetables and fruits daily, limit juice intake
- Use vegetable oils and soft margarines low in saturated fat and trans fatty acids instead of butter or most other animal fats in the diet
- Eat whole grain breads and cereals rather than refined grain products
- Reduce the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and foods
- Use nonfat (skim) or low-fat milk and dairy products daily
- Eat more fish, especially oily fish, broiled or baked
- Reduce salt intake, including salt from processed foods
Source: American Heart Association
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