During the first year of life/infants children's diet go through many changes. Children begin with liquid/moving on to pureed food then mashed food, and finally to a variety of textures, shapes, flavors and temperatures. When feeding infants and children, it is important to keep in mind that food should promote normal and healthy growth and should meet the nutritional needs of the infant or child. What is feed to the infant or child and the manner in which it is feed, should promote good eating habits. Feeding should be a time of happiness and pleasure. A time to promote love and security ; it is not a time for speed, efficiency or neatness.

Infancy is a period of rapid growth. During the first year of life, the infant grows and develops far more rapidly than any other time in life. To meet the high nutritional requirements of an infant, good nutrition throughout infancy is very important. For the 1^st 4 to 6 months of life, feed the baby only breast milk. It is the e first food for the infant. It is nature’s gift for the child and the best suited for the infant’s growth and development. Baby foods are an alternative if mother’s milk is insufficient.

Planning your child’s eating habits is the best policy.

Give your child variety of food. Toddlers are very fond of colors, so offer them foods having variety of colors & textures. Always serve warm food instead of hot because it is more appealing to them. Serve healthy snacks – fruits & fruit juice, raw vegetables served with fat-free dressing, cereal, soup, at the same time everyday and space them so they won’t interfere with meals. Encourage your children to eat only when they are hungry.

It’s the art of healthy eating.