|
|
Nutrition plays a vital role in the growth and development of infants, children and adolescents. The AAP recommends that parents:
* Offer a variety of fruits and vegetables
* Choose lean meats, poultry and fish
* Serve whole grain breads and cereals, rice and pasta
Breast is best * For a variety of reasons, human milk represents the best source of nutrition for most infants during the first months of life. In addition, there is evidence that human milk confers protection against infections.
* Because whole cow's milk contains inadequate concentrations of certain important ingredients, including iron, the AAP recommends that infants be fed breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula for the first 12 months of life.
* Since the AAP believes that direct advertising of infant formula to mothers will inevitably decrease the incidence of breast-feeding, and thereby impair the health of infants in the U.S., the AAP has for many years recommended that infant formula companies refrain from advertising their products to the general public.
* Skim or low-fat milk is not recommended during the first 2 years of life because of the high protein and electrolyte content and low calorie density of these milks.
s To meet the nutritional needs of growing children, the AAP recommends that
appropriate solid foods should be added to their diets between 4 and 6 months of age.
* Fat intake should not be restricted in children younger than age 2. For children over age 2, current trends toward a decreased consumption of saturated fats, cholesterol and salt and increased intake of polyunsaturated fats should be followed with moderation.
* Normal, healthy children receiving a normal diet do not need vitamin supplementation over and above the recommended daily allowances.
* Regular elective cholesterol testing is suggested for children older than 2 years of age whose parents or grandparents have a history of premature (before age 55) cardiovascular disease, or whose parents have a cholesterol level above 240 mg/dl.
Last created: Thursday, December 28, 1995 - 4:08:06 PM Last Updated 12/27/97
