New infant food labels will look different from adult food labels. While infant food labels also use the Nutrition Facts format, the information provided is different.
Infant Food Label
The label for infant foods contains important information.
Infant Oatmeal Cereal
Total Fat
Total fat content on the food label shows the amount of total fat in a serving of the food. Unlike adult food labels, infant food labels will not list calories from fat, saturated fat or choles terol. Since babies under two years need fat, the infant food labels does not include the fat details.Parents should not attempt to limit their infant’s fat intake.
Serving Size
Serving sizes for infant foods are based on average amounts that infants under 2 years usually eat at one time. Serving sizes on adult food labels are based on average amounts that adults typically eat at one time.
Daily Values
Food labels for infants and children under four years of age list Daily Value percentages for protein, vitamins and minerals. Unlike adult food labels, daily values for fat, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, carbohydrate, and fiber are not listed because they have not been set for children under four.
Infants and Food
The first 24 months of life is a time of rapid growth and high nutritional demands. The infant’s small stomach limits the volume of food that they can reasonably consume. Because of these unique conditions, the main goal of infant feeding is to provide enough calories and nutrients to support optimal growth and development.
Infants Need Fat
Infants have different nutrient and dietary requirements than adults. Adult food labels list calories from fat, amount of saturated fat, and the amount of cholesterol to help adults make healthful food choices. Infant food labels omit the detailed listing of fat information because infants need fat as a concen trated calorie source to fuel their rapid growth. Efforts to limit fat in the infant diet are unwise. Health professionals do not endorse feeding reduced-fat dairy products such as skim milk to infants under two years. Whole milk is an important source of calories for infants who no longer receive breast milk or formula.
Food Choices
Every baby is an individual, with individual food likes. Food choices that lead to dietary variety in the first two years can play an important role in developing lifelong healthy eating patterns. Serving a variety of foods,from all major food groups, provides the balance needed to begin a natural moderation of fat intake after two years of age.
By reading the new infant food label, parents can select a nutritious variety of foods for their baby’s healthful diet.
Tips on Variety
Offer infants foods that help establish a lifetime of good eating habits.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamin C and beta-carotene. The frequent feeding of these foods at mealtimes helps children become familiar with the flavors of a variety of foods, setting the stage for continued acceptance and enjoyment. A word of caution related to the use of high fiber foods. Some foods, such as high fiber adult cereals or certain raw vegetables, are often low in calories and high in bulk. Avoid feeding these types or large amounts of these foods to infants because they fill an infant’s small stomach while providing minimal calories and nutrients that infants need to grow. Infants and young children will get enough fiber for their needs by eating a variety of foods.
Breads, Cereals, Grains
Cereals fortified with iron are a good way to provide iron to infants during the first 24 months. Offer foods that con tain iron (such as iron-fortified infant cereal) with foods that contain vitamin C (such as fortified infant juices) to help improve iron absorption. Other choices include soft cooked noodles, rice or pasta.
Meats and Milk Products
These foods are valuable sources of protein and minerals needed for developing bones and muscles. Offer a variety of soft, pureed meats such as chicken, turkey, or beef to provide nutrients critical for tissue development and growth.
Whole milk is an important source of nutrients such as calcium and fat. Infant bone development requires an adequate intake of calcium from food. Good sources of calcium include cheese, yogurt, milk and cottage cheese.
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