Eat Your Vegetables! Importance of Early Fruit and Vegetable Exposure for Infants: New Research
When infants are exposed to certain fruits and vegetables repeatedly, they're not only more likely to accept them, but to actually acquire a taste for them. The finding is the result of new research recently published in Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
This latest study involved the observation of 45 infants between the ages of 4 and 8 months. Researchers determined that babies ate more green beans when they were fed these vegetables over and over again, regardless of whether they had simultaneously developed a preference for peaches. Breastfed babies whose mothers ate increased quantities of peaches were also found to have eaten more of the fruit than the formula-fed babies.
According to authors of the study, at least two parenting implications ultimately follow from the research: for breastfed babies to acquire a legitimate taste for certain fruits and vegetables, their nursing mothers have to eat them regularly, as well. Secondly, once they're weaned, infants require repeated feedings of the same foods in order to establish their preference.
Researchers caution parents not to automatically pull the spoon away when babies appear to reject the taste of a new food. Much of that facial expression, according to scientists, is a natural reaction to new textures and flavors -- not necessarily a sign that an infanct doesn't like something. The scientists recommend watching to determine how willing your baby is to continue eating, regardless of his or her facial expressions.
Researchers also note that if a nursing mother eats a diet high in junk foods while breastfeeding, her infant is more likely to develop a preference for less-healthy foods.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also recommends waiting until 6 months to expose children to solid food, to reduce the likelihood that they will develop food allergies. Parents should discuss solid food diets with their pediatrician before attempting to begin such a diet, but when the time is right, the AAP offers the following advice for getting started"
- "Begin with a small amount of iron-fortified rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula.
- Use an infant spoon — do not put cereal in your baby's bottle unless your doctor says otherwise.
- Try again in about a week if your baby is pushing a lot of food out with the tongue — your little one might not be ready for solids just yet.
- Wait until your baby successfully eats cereal from the spoon before trying other solids.
- Introduce one new finely pureed fruit or vegetable at a time. And wait about a week to watch for allergic reactions before introducing another.
- Don't start mixing foods (like pears and peaches, or carrots and peas) until you've given one of each for at least a week.
- Wait until:
- 6 months to give juice and then limit it to no more than 4 total ounces (120 ml) a day
- around 9 months to serve pureed meats; coarser, chunkier foods; and finger foods
- 1 year to introduce eggs, cow's milk, citrus fruits or juices, and honey
- 2 years to give peanuts, tree nuts, or seafood (longer if allergies run in your family)
- Continue giving your baby formula or breast milk, which should remain a major part of your infant's diet until that first birthday."
Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:
- A study indicating that breast-feeding is not linked to the development of cavities
- New information regarding peanut allergies in children and their rates of exposure
- Research demonstrating that 80% of hospitalized kids receive medications approved only for adults
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