{"id":37385,"date":"2020-12-03T16:19:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T22:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.incredibleegg.org\/?post_type=nutrition_article&#038;p=37385"},"modified":"2023-06-21T16:21:37","modified_gmt":"2023-06-21T21:21:37","slug":"transitioning-to-family-meals-nutrient-dense-foods-for-infants-and-toddlers","status":"publish","type":"nutrition_article","link":"https:\/\/www.incredibleegg.org\/nutrition\/articles\/transitioning-to-family-meals-nutrient-dense-foods-for-infants-and-toddlers\/","title":{"rendered":"Transitioning to Family Meals: Nutrient-Dense Foods for Infants and Toddlers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Messages<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The 2020 DGAC says \u201cevery bite counts\u201d when it comes to feeding infants and toddlers because it is a critical period for growth and development that is characterized by high nutrient needs in relation to the amount of food consumed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The DGAC emphasizes offering developmentally appropriate forms of nutrient-rich animal- sourced foods, including meat, poultry, seafood, eggs and dairy products, as well as nut and seed containing foods, fruits, vegetables, and grain products in age-appropriate forms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block\">\n<p>While children develop at different rates and individual circumstances can influence feeding needs, the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee summarizes, \u201cA general principle is to view the period from ages 6 to 24 months as a continuous transition from diets appropriate for infants to diets that resemble family food patterns.\u201d<sup>1<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6 to 12 Months: Provide Complementary Foods with High Nutrient Density<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block\">\n<p>During the first year of life, human milk or infant formula contribute a substantial proportion of total energy. When an infant is developmentally ready (around 4 to 6 months), complementary foods can be introduced.<sup>1<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block\">\n<p>The 2020 DGAC recommends:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201c\u2026consumption of meat, egg, and seafood is an important strategy\u201d for providing key nutrients such as iron, zinc, choline, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cFortified infant cereals can contribute a substantial amount of some of these nutrients, particularly iron and zinc\u2026\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201c\u2026fruits and vegetables\u2026rich in potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin C\u2026not only to provide adequate nutrition but also to foster acceptance of these healthy foods.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cIntroduction of peanut products and egg is advised\u2026\u201d to help reduce the risk of allergies to these foods and \u201cto provide good sources of fatty acids and choline.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201c\u2026diets at this age include no remaining energy for added sugars and little energy for added oils or added solid fats.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">12 to 24 Months: Continue to Provide a Variety of Complementary Foods and Beverages with High Nutrient Density<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block\">\n<p>In their analysis for 12 to 24 months, the 2020 DGAC started with the same proportions in the 1,000 kcal pattern for 2 years and older and then adjusted in order to meet nutrient needs for toddlers. Guidance was provided for caregivers<sup>1<\/sup>:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cProvide a variety of animal-source foods (meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and dairy),<br>fruits, and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and whole grain products, beginning at ages 6 to 12 months and continuing thereafter\u2026\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cFor toddlers ages 12 to 24 months whose diets do not include meat, poultry, or seafood, provide eggs and dairy products on a regular basis, along with soy products and nuts or seeds, fruits, vegetables, grains and oils.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cAvoid foods and beverages with added sugars during the first 2 years of life.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block\">\n<p>Overall, these carefully crafted guidelines emphasize \u201cevery bite counts\u201d \u2013 that is, infants and toddlers are not able to eat large amounts of food, but require significant amounts of essential nutrients during this critical period for growth and development.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block\">\n<p>Importantly, the 2020 DGAC provided examples of what infants and toddlers should eat, and suggest research is needed to better understand how infants and toddlers should be fed. The Scientific Report states, \u201cEstablishing healthy eating habits during the first 2 years of life is critical. Although the individual experience shapes food preferences (e.g., tastes), the collective modeling of food choices in young childhood through direct observation of food intake by peers and adults also is paramount.\u201d This statement is supported by research that indicates caregivers can play an important role in helping to shape children\u2019s eating habits by providing healthy food in the home and by modeling eating behaviors.<sup>2,3\u00a0\u00a0<\/sup>In other words, one of the best ways to help baby learn to eat healthy is by providing nutrient-rich options for the entire family!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"references-block-block_d5b0de39d86d699d1e5e9febc680fa17\" class=\"content-block references-block \">\n\n  <h3><a class=\"references__toggle\" aria-controls=\"references--block_d5b0de39d86d699d1e5e9febc680fa17\" aria-expanded=\"false\" href=\"#\">References<\/a><\/h3>\n  \n  <div class=\"references__ol text-block\" id=\"references--block_d5b0de39d86d699d1e5e9febc680fa17\"><ol>\n<li>Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Scientific Report of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee: Advisory Report to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 2020<\/li>\n<li>Scaglioni, S., et al., Factors Influencing Children\u2019s Eating Behaviours. Nutrients, 2018. 10(6).<\/li>\n<li>Yee, A.Z., M.O. Lwin, and S.S. Ho, The influence of parental practices on child promotive and preventive food consumption behaviors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act, 2017. 14(1): p. 47.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Messages While children develop at different rates and individual circumstances can influence feeding needs, the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee summarizes, \u201cA general principle is to view the period from ages 6 to 24 months as a continuous transition from diets appropriate for infants to diets that resemble family food patterns.\u201d1 6 to 12 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":37386,"template":"","nutrition_article_tag":[28,29],"class_list":["post-37385","nutrition_article","type-nutrition_article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","nutrition_article_tag-nutrients-in-eggs","nutrition_article_tag-nutritious-dietary-patterns"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Transitioning to Family Meals: Nutrient-Dense Foods for Infants and Toddlers - 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