CHICAGO<\/strong> (Dec. 29, 2020) \u2013 <\/strong>One of the best foods for a baby\u2019s healthy brain development is already in most refrigerators: eggs. In an historic first, the newly released 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans include recommendations for birth to 24 months old and specifically recommend eggs as an important first food for infants and toddlers, as well as for pregnant women and lactating moms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The new Guidelines substantiate that eggs \u2014 long known to be a vital source of nutrients for people of all ages \u2014 provide several key nutrients important for babies during the time in which their brains are most rapidly developing. Notably, the Guidelines highlight the importance of choline, a nutrient plentiful in eggs, while recommending eggs as a first food for babies to reduce risk for an egg allergy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe new Dietary Guidelines for Americans confirm what the science has shown: eggs provide critical nutritional support for brain health, and they play a crucial role in infant development and prenatal health,\u201d said Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board. \u201cWith 90% of brain growth happening before kindergarten, eggs help make every bite count, especially when babies are just being introduced to solid foods.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a fundamental first food for babies, eggs are one of the most concentrated sources of choline, a nutrient that has now been recognized as important for brain health. Just one large egg provides the daily choline needs for babies and toddlers, and two large eggs provide more than half of daily choline needs for pregnant moms. Additionally, early introduction of eggs (between 4-6 months of age and when a baby is developmentally ready) may also help reduce the risk of developing an egg allergy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs a nutrition scientist and a dad, I know this is important news for parents,\u201d said Dr. Mickey Rubin, executive director of the American Egg Board\u2019s Egg Nutrition Center. \u201cCholine is a nutrient under-consumed by all Americans, and the Guidelines recommend eggs as a notable source of choline to support brain health and development during pregnancy. Additionally, establishing healthy eating patterns from the start ensures children\u2019s growing bodies and brains get the nutrition they need. Eggs are a fundamental food in these early years because they provide a unique nutrient package.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eggs: Good for baby \u2014 and the rest of us, too<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Eggs qualify for all three healthy eating patterns recommended in the new Guidelines, and the Guidelines also affirm that eggs, as a nutrient-dense food, can contribute to the health and well-being of Americans of all ages in several ways, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n