You Are What You Eat
Textbook pages 167-170, Sections 5.3-5.3.2
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding until age 2, with
solid food being introduced at 6 months. Whether by choice or necessity, many parents
opt instead for bottle-feeding cow’s milk or formula, introducing solid foods earlier or
later than recommended, or, in some cases, introducing their toddler to a diet of
highly processed and sugar-laden foods.
Spend approximately 15 minutes at a grocery store (in person or online) inspecting
food offerings aimed at children aged 3 and younger, including a selection of jarred
baby foods, cereal marketed for young children, prepackaged meals, fruit juices, and
standbys such as teething biscuits or graham crackers. You should take a photograph
of ingredients labels for reference.
Questions:
Do the foods you examined appear to be generally healthy or unhealthy, or is a range
of options available to parents?
There is a range of options available, but many of the products marketed toward babies
lean toward being less healthy than they appear. Often using words like “organic,”
“natural,” “no artificial flavors,” or “made with real fruit.” However, when examining
ingredient labels, many products—especially cereals, fruit snacks, flavored yogurts,
toddler puffs, teething biscuits, and juices—contain: added sugars, high sodium,
refined grain, and preservatives. But there are still healthier available options.
That said, there are healthier options available, such as Plain, iron-fortified baby
cereals, Single-ingredient pureed vegetables, Unsweetened sauces, yogurt with no
added sugar, and plain mashed fruits and veggies.
Are there some clear offenders in terms of sugar, sodium, or fat content:
Added sugar is very common, even in baby food. So many of the foods marketed
towards babies, even while called “organic” or a “healthier option,” still contain large
amounts of added sugars, with more sugar than protein or vitamins. Even natural
sugars should be better limited. It adds nothing to the nutritional value of a baby and
, only gets them addicted to sugar, despite being so young that they don't even know
what sugar is and wouldn't miss it if it weren't included in their diet.
What effects are these food choices likely to have on later nutrition, growth, and
emotional well-being?
Early food exposure strongly influences lifelong eating patterns. The effects can
include: taste preferences( particularly sweets and high sugar food, more likely to
prefer good foods such as fruits and veggies, leading to long-term unhealthy eating
habits. There is also a higher risk of obesity and metabolic disease due to greater fat
storage because of excess calories. For brain development nutrition like iron, healthy
fats, and others, which are needed for brain development, are missing, affecting
cognitive development, emotional regulation, and behavior( sugar crashes influencing
mood swings and irritability). All in all, the lack of nutrient-rich food delays
developmental and physical milestones/growth
Benefits of Breastfeeding:
Contains a large variety of nutrients needed for babies to grow, such as fat, protein,
and carbohydrates, as well as being easier to digest than formula. It also increases
immune protection, lowering the risk of infectious diseases and allergies. Brain and
vision development, as well as cognitive performance,e require fatty acids, which
breast milk contains plenty of. The emotional aspect of it is also important as the skin
to skin contacts creates an emotional bond which helps with emotional regulation.
Baby's recommended daily calorie intake needs:
0-6 Months: Baby needs breast milk or formula. Solid foods are recommended to be
introduced starting at 4-6 months, beginning with 1-2 tablespoons 1-2 times daily.
6-12 Months: Generally around 100 kcal/kg of body weight daily. For example, a
6-month-old (approx. 17 lb) needs roughly 625 kcal/day.
Textbook pages 167-170, Sections 5.3-5.3.2
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding until age 2, with
solid food being introduced at 6 months. Whether by choice or necessity, many parents
opt instead for bottle-feeding cow’s milk or formula, introducing solid foods earlier or
later than recommended, or, in some cases, introducing their toddler to a diet of
highly processed and sugar-laden foods.
Spend approximately 15 minutes at a grocery store (in person or online) inspecting
food offerings aimed at children aged 3 and younger, including a selection of jarred
baby foods, cereal marketed for young children, prepackaged meals, fruit juices, and
standbys such as teething biscuits or graham crackers. You should take a photograph
of ingredients labels for reference.
Questions:
Do the foods you examined appear to be generally healthy or unhealthy, or is a range
of options available to parents?
There is a range of options available, but many of the products marketed toward babies
lean toward being less healthy than they appear. Often using words like “organic,”
“natural,” “no artificial flavors,” or “made with real fruit.” However, when examining
ingredient labels, many products—especially cereals, fruit snacks, flavored yogurts,
toddler puffs, teething biscuits, and juices—contain: added sugars, high sodium,
refined grain, and preservatives. But there are still healthier available options.
That said, there are healthier options available, such as Plain, iron-fortified baby
cereals, Single-ingredient pureed vegetables, Unsweetened sauces, yogurt with no
added sugar, and plain mashed fruits and veggies.
Are there some clear offenders in terms of sugar, sodium, or fat content:
Added sugar is very common, even in baby food. So many of the foods marketed
towards babies, even while called “organic” or a “healthier option,” still contain large
amounts of added sugars, with more sugar than protein or vitamins. Even natural
sugars should be better limited. It adds nothing to the nutritional value of a baby and
, only gets them addicted to sugar, despite being so young that they don't even know
what sugar is and wouldn't miss it if it weren't included in their diet.
What effects are these food choices likely to have on later nutrition, growth, and
emotional well-being?
Early food exposure strongly influences lifelong eating patterns. The effects can
include: taste preferences( particularly sweets and high sugar food, more likely to
prefer good foods such as fruits and veggies, leading to long-term unhealthy eating
habits. There is also a higher risk of obesity and metabolic disease due to greater fat
storage because of excess calories. For brain development nutrition like iron, healthy
fats, and others, which are needed for brain development, are missing, affecting
cognitive development, emotional regulation, and behavior( sugar crashes influencing
mood swings and irritability). All in all, the lack of nutrient-rich food delays
developmental and physical milestones/growth
Benefits of Breastfeeding:
Contains a large variety of nutrients needed for babies to grow, such as fat, protein,
and carbohydrates, as well as being easier to digest than formula. It also increases
immune protection, lowering the risk of infectious diseases and allergies. Brain and
vision development, as well as cognitive performance,e require fatty acids, which
breast milk contains plenty of. The emotional aspect of it is also important as the skin
to skin contacts creates an emotional bond which helps with emotional regulation.
Baby's recommended daily calorie intake needs:
0-6 Months: Baby needs breast milk or formula. Solid foods are recommended to be
introduced starting at 4-6 months, beginning with 1-2 tablespoons 1-2 times daily.
6-12 Months: Generally around 100 kcal/kg of body weight daily. For example, a
6-month-old (approx. 17 lb) needs roughly 625 kcal/day.
