Child Nutrition

It is important to know that at 4 months of age your baby should be ready to begin solids. Start byintroducing cereal into your baby’s diet but use only single grain cereals. Those are rice, barley, and oatmeal. You could try each new cereal for 3-4 ...

It is important to know that at 4 months of age yo...

Answer from Jay L. Hoecker, M.D. Multivitamins aren't necessary for most healthy children who are growing normally. Foods are the best source of nutrients. Regular meals and snacks can provide all the nutrients most preschoolers need. While many youn...

Answer from Jay L. Hoecker, M.D. Multivitamins are...

Answer from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. While whole fruit is the best choice, certain types of fruit juice can be a healthy part of your child's diet. Recent studies have confirmed that drinking moderate amounts of 100 percent fruit juice doesn't ...

Answer from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. While w...

Healthy snacks for kids don't have to be dull. Consider 10 tips for quick-and-healthy snacks. Snacking is a major pastime for many kids — and that's not necessarily bad. Nutritious snacking can help your child curb hunger throughout the day, as well ...

Healthy snacks for kids don't have to be dull. Con...

I work with a lot of men, many of them fathers, who tell me, "Oh, my wife takes care of the shopping and the cooking." Wait a moment, gentlemen. Fathers, not just mothers, are role models for their children when it comes to healthy eating. Fathers wh...

I work with a lot of men, many of them fathers, wh...

To boost student performance, some schools have declared themselves "sugar-free" — meaning they don't allow sugar-laden foods, such as cookies, candies, birthday treats or sweet drinks. Some of these schools report not only improved school performanc...

To boost student performance, some schools have de...

Children's nutrition doesn't have to be frustrating. Consider these strategies to avoid power struggles and help the picky eater in your family eat a balanced diet. Has your preschooler refused to eat anything other than chicken nuggets for the past ...

Children's nutrition doesn't have to be frustratin...

Change is coming to the National School Lunch Program. These changes were inspired in part by the Let's Move! Campaign, which is aimed at curbing childhood obesity and improving the health of the nation's children. Here are some of the changes in sto...

Change is coming to the National School Lunch Prog...

Let's start with the good news. Kids are consuming less added sugar than they were in 2000. The bad news is that kids are still getting more sugar — 16 percent of total calories — than the 5 to 15 percent recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Ame...

Let's start with the good news. Kids are consuming...

School nutrition and food services tend cater to kids' likes. Some even try to put a healthy twist on kids' favorite foods. That's commendable, but realistically we need to get beyond chicken nuggets, pizza, and macaroni and cheese if we want to make...

School nutrition and food services tend cater to k...

The nutritional research linking fish, especially those rich with omega 3 fatty acids, to many potential health benefits continues to grow. The omega 3 fatty acid, DHA, is found in high concentrations in the brain, eyes, and central nervous system. O...

The nutritional research linking fish, especially ...

I remember learning that food companies spend billions of dollars in food marketing to children under that age of 4. So, it was an amusing moment when I got to experience it for the first time as a mother. It was a juice drink so cleverly marketed th...

I remember learning that food companies spend bill...

At a recent picnic with my extended family, my 8-year-old child and a 12-year-old nephew were discussing the calorie content of a certain food. My mother commented to me that she didn't even know what a calorie was when she was their age let alone be...

At a recent picnic with my extended family, my 8-y...

When my son was 2 years old, he took a large swallow of clear soda thinking it was water. Eyes watering and throat burning, he swore off drinking anything with bubbles. About a year later, however, he started to realize that his older cousins and the...

When my son was 2 years old, he took a large swall...

Is it true that you can't get pregnant while you're breastfeeding? I'm currently breastfeeding my baby and my husband and I aren't using any sort of protection. Thanks! - Marisol Breastfeeding naturally suppresses the hormones needed for ovulation, s...

Is it true that you can't get pregnant while you'r...

I know that doctors recommend breastfeeding over formula, but I’m having a hard time with it. I've worked with a lactation consultant, but it’s still not happening. I feel like a failure and am afraid to admit that I’ve been giving my baby formula! W...

I know that doctors recommend breastfeeding over f...

I'm a new mom and have just started breastfeeding. If I avoid certain foods during this time, can I lesson my daughter's chances of developing food allergies? - Chemera At this time, doctors do not recommend that you avoid certain foods while breastf...

I'm a new mom and have just started breastfeeding....

My 5-month-old seems to be interested in trying new foods. I’d like to offer him juice, but I’m not sure if he's ready and, if he is, what type of juice drinks to give him. Any suggestions? - Michelle It's best to wait until after babies reach 6 mont...

My 5-month-old seems to be interested in trying ne...

I've heard that I shouldn't feed my baby honey. Is this true? - Kathy It's true that honey should not be fed to infants younger than 1 year old. Clostridium bacteria that cause infant botulism usually thrive in soil and dust. However, they can also c...

I've heard that I shouldn't feed my baby honey. Is...

Many toddlers become attached to their bottles. They have them with them much of the time, so besides providing nourishment, bottles also mean comfort and security. But it's important for parents to start weaning babies from bottles around the end of...

Many toddlers become attached to their bottles. Th...

A friend of mine just started giving her 3-month-old applesauce and rice cereal. My son is just 2 weeks younger than hers, and I am wondering if I should be introducing solids soon, too. What do you think? - Taylor Wait a bit longer. Most babies are ...

A friend of mine just started giving her 3-month-o...