Best Practices for Healthy Eating Guide - Nemours

Infants:
Grains & Breads
Age Recommended Not Recommended
Birth through 3 months n Breast milk (preferred)
n Other foods at this age
n Iron-fortified infant formula
4 through 7 months n Iron-fortified infant cereals
n Make at least half of grains whole grains (as
possible, given that infants are still being
introduced to cereals).
n Commercially prepared cereal mixtures
8 through 11 months n Iron-fortified infant cereals
n Make at least half of grains whole grains.
n All foods should have zero grams of trans fat
n Commercially-prepared, age-appropriate baked
snacks (such as teething biscuits) are allowed
for snack time only.
n Try to offer items (cereals, crackers, baked
goods, etc.) that have no more than 200 mg of
sodium per serving
n Grains and cereals that have more than
6 grams of sugar per serving, as labeled
n Commercially prepared cereal mixtures
n Baked goods that are high in sugar and/or fat
(such as cookies, granola bars, cupcakes, donuts,
cinnamon buns, etc.)
Rationale
Why serve whole grains
n The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend
making half of grain servings whole grains.
n Whole grains are good sources of dietary fiber, several
B vitamins and minerals.
n Children and adults should eat about 14g of fiber for
every 1,000 calories consumed. Diets high in fiber
have a number of beneficial effects, including lowering
the risk for heart disease and preventing constipation.
Portion Size
Watch for hunger and fullness cues.
n Choosing foods that are free of added sugars helps
people meet their nutrient needs without eating too
many calories, sugars and fats. Added sugars supply
calories but few or no nutrients.
n Limiting cereals to 6g of sugar (1.5 tsp) or fewer will
help to keep added sugars low in children’s diets.
Why no commercially-prepared cereal mixtures
n Mixture may contain a new food that the child has
not tried and may cause an allergic reaction.
n Portions of the food components in the mixture are
not specified.
Age Item Meals Snacks
Birth through 3 months n Grains None None
4 through 7 months n Iron-fortified infant cereal 0–3 Tbsp —
8 through 11 months n Iron-fortified infant cereal 2–4 Tbsp —
n Bread — ½ slice
n Crackers — 2 crackers
12 Best Practices for Healthy Eating