Beyond an Apple a Day

posted on March 02, 2009 11:18

Idaho CareLine: Dial 2-1-1 or 800-926-2588

Beyond an Apple a Day

Food and nutrition are as important in childhood as love and care. Children who are rapidly growing and developing need enhanced nutrition and the food they eat also play an important role in their development.

Idaho Women Infants and Children (WIC) — Help for women and children to purchase nutritional foods.

Starting Out Right: Feeding Your Baby

Babies may be ready for solid foods when they:

Can hold up their heads without support.
Do not push food out of their mouths with their tongues.

Beginning solid foods when:

Baby is four to six months old, start with one of these infant cereals:
- Infant Barley cereal.

How to prepare infant cereal:

Measure a small amount of cereal into a dish.
Add breast milk or formula to the cereal.
Stir.
Feed baby with a small spoon.

Foods for Baby's First Year

Age	Foods to Begin	Breast milk or Formula
Birth to 4 months	Breast Milk or Formula with Iron. All your baby needs the first 4 to 6 months. Continue to give throughout the first year.	Per day: Breastfeed 6 to 10 times Formula 20 to 36 ounces
4 to 6 months	Plain Infant Cereal. Feed cereal only from a spoon. Begin with rice cereal, 1 to 2 spoonfuls.	Per day: Breastfeed 5 to 6 times Formula 32 to 40 ounces
6 to 7 months	Infant Fruit Juice. Offer 2 to 4 ounces per day from a small cup. Infant juice has Vitamin C. Plain Fruits and Cooked Vegetables. Mashed and peeled, 2 to 4 spoonfuls. Orange vegetables and apricots have Vitamin A.	Per day: Breastfeed 5 to 6 times Formula 32 to 40 ounces
7 to 9 months	Protein Foods. Mashed cooked dry beans, and diced plain soft meats, 1 to 2 spoonfuls. Offer a Variety of Foods. Baby may begin to feed self.	Per day: Breastfeed 5 to 6 times Formula 32 to 40 ounces
9 to 12 months	Finger Foods. Toast, crackers, cooked vegetables, soft fruit. Use Cup More for Drinking. Water, juice and formula with iron.	Per day: Breastfeed 4 to 6 times Formula 24 to 32 ounces
12 months	Whole Cow's Milk. Give 3 cups per day. Replaces formula or can be used along with breast milk. Wean from Bottle. Use a cup for drinking.	Per day: Breastfeeding may continue Whole milk 24 ounces

New Foods

Start one new food at a time. Try 1 to 2 small spoonfuls at first. Wait 3 to 5 days before giving the next new food.
Your baby may only want to touch a new food. This is normal. Try offering it again another day.
Feed your baby from a dish rather than from the storage container or baby food jar. Babies' saliva makes food thin and watery.
There is no need to feed your baby extra water unless it's extremely warm outdoors. Discuss this with a doctor if you are concerned.

Caution

Certain foods may cause babies to choke and should not be given to babies. They are: nuts, popcorn, raw vegetables, hot dogs, meatsticks, grapes, apples, small hard candy (like LifeSavers) and peanut butter on bread.
Honey, molasses or Karo syrup may cause a very serious food poison for babies. Wait until your baby is over 1 year to give honey, molasses or Karo syrup.

Stepping Out: Healthy Foods for Toddlers (1-2 years)

Things to Remember

Your child's growth rate will slow down after his first birthday. So will his appetite.
Make meal times happy. Do not bribe or force a child to eat any food.
Give small, child-size servings and let your child ask for more. A good guide is 1 spoonful for each year of age.
Introduce a new food along with favorite foods. Offer different flavors and textures.
Whole milk is best for your child until at least 2 years of age.
Young children need snacks between meals. Offer snacks at least 2 hours before meals. Meals and snacks should be served about the same time each day.
Children may go on food jags and eat only one or two foods.
Foods refused today may be accepted later.

Toddler Eating Guide

Food Group Major Nutrients Servings per day Serving Sizes
(1 to 2 years) Food Sources

Protein
Protein
Iron
2 to 4 1/2 ounce meat or 2 tablespoons
1/2 egg
1/4 cup beans or peas
1 tablespoon of peanut butter Dried beans, cheese, eggs, peanut butter, split peas, beef, fish, cottage cheese, pork, poultry, tofu, tuna fish

Milk Products
Calcium
Protein
6 1/2 ounce cheese
1/2 cup milk or yogurt Whole milk, lowfat milk, skim milk, powdered milk, evaporated milk, cheese, yogurt

Vegetables
and
Fruits
Vitamin A
Fiber
1 1/4 cup Apricots, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, mangos, nectarines, peaches, pumpkin, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, watermelon, winter squash, sweet potatoes

Vitamin C
Fiber
(not in juice)
1 1/4 cup Juices fortified with vitamin C, orange juice, grapefruit juice, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, grapefruit, oranges, peppers, strawberries

Other Vitamins and Minerals
Fiber 2 1/4 cup Apples, bananas, berries, corn, cucumbers, grapes, green beans, lettuce, melons, pears, peas, potatoes, turnips, zucchini

Breads
and
Cereals
Carbohydrates
B Vitamins
Iron
Fiber 4 to 6 1/2 slice bread, roll or tortilla
3 crackers
1/4 cup rice, pasta or hot cereal
1/2 cup cold cereal Cold cereal, hot cereal, crackers, macaroni, noodles, spaghetti, rice, rolls, tortillas, white bread, whole wheat bread

Fats and Sugar
Limit these foods. They provide calories with few nutrients. Butter, margarine, salad dressing, sugar, candy, jam, syrup, soda pop, cake, pie, chips, bacon, Koolaid

WIC foods printed in color
(Women, Infants, and Children Program)

Parents choose to serve healthy foods at meal times. Children decide how much of those foods to eat.

Sample Menu

Breakfast 1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup cereal with milk
1/4 cup orange juice

Snack 1 graham cracker
2 tablespoons applesauce
1/2 cup milk

Lunch 1/2 cup milk
1/2 peanut butter sandwich
1/2 cup vegetable soup
1/4 cup cantaloupe cubes

Snack 2 vanilla wafers
1/2 cup milk

Dinner 1/2 cup milk
1 chicken leg (no skin)
2 tablespoons carrots
1 roll

Caution

Some foods may cause small children to choke. Save them until children are older.

Children should sit down while eating. They should not be left alone while eating.

Growing Up: Healthy Foods for Pre-Schoolers (3-5 years)

Build Good Eating Habits

Make sure there is a comfortable place to eat at a table.
Serve food in a quiet place without the TV, stereo or radio on.
Learning to eat takes practice... be prepared for spills.
Sit down to eat with your child.
Use a plastic cup filled only halfway.
A small deep dish helps food get on the spoon more easily.
Try one new food at a time. Offer it at the beginning when children are hungry.
Serve finger foods like pieces of vegetables, fruit, meat, cheese, crackers or cereal.

Preschooler Eating Guide

Food Group Major Nutrients Servings per day Serving Sizes
(3 to 5 years) Food Sources

Protein
Protein
Iron
3 1 ounce meat
1 egg
1/4 cup beans or peas
2 tablespoons of peanut butter Dried beans, cheese, eggs, peanut butter, split peas, beef, fish, cottage cheese, pork, poultry, tofu, tuna fish

Milk Products
Calcium
Protein
4 3/4 ounce cheese
3/4 cup milk or yogurt Whole milk, lowfat milk, skim milk, powdered milk, evaporated milk, cheese, yogurt

Vegetables
and
Fruits
Vitamin A
Fiber
1 1/2 cup Apricots, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, mangos, nectarines, peaches, pumpkin, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, watermelon, winter squash, sweet potatoes

Vitamin C
Fiber
(not in juice)
1 1/2 cup Juices fortified with vitamin C, orange juice, grapefruit juice, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, grapefruit, oranges, peppers, strawberries

Other Vitamins and Minerals
Fiber
2 to 4 1/4 cup Apples, bananas, berries, corn, cucumbers, grapes, green beans, lettuce, melons, pears, peas, potatoes, turnips, zucchini

Breads
and
Cereals
Carbohydrates
B Vitamins
Iron
Fiber 4 1/2 slice bread, roll or tortilla
3 crackers
1/4 cup rice, pasta or hot cereal
1/2 cup cold cereal Cold cereal, hot cereal, crackers, macaroni, noodles, spaghetti, rice, rolls, tortillas, white bread, whole wheat bread

Fats and Sugar
Limit these foods. They provide calories with few nutrients. Butter, margarine, salad dressing, sugar, candy, jam, syrup, soda pop, cake, pie, chips, bacon, Koolaid

WIC foods printed in color
(Women, Infants, and Children Program)

Parents choose to serve healthy foods at meal times. Children decide how much of those foods to eat.

Sample Menu

Breakfast 1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup cereal with milk
1/2 banana

Snack 2 cheese cubes
1/2 apple, sliced

Lunch 1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup bean soup
1 tortilla
1/2 orange

Snack 4 vanilla wafers
1/2 cup milk

Dinner 1/2 cup milk
1 chicken leg
1/4 cup carrots
1 roll

Include Children When Fixing Food

Setting the table.
Washing vegetables for salad.
Stirring dough for cookies.
Growing bean sprouts.
Making sandwiches.
Shaping meatballs.
Pouring cereal and milk (with help).
Wiping the table.
Peeling bananas.

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