How close do you follow food guide recommendations? - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

Celestine · 09-22-2006, 01:25 PM

I was just wondering how many moms with kids over 1 follow the food guide recs. religiously? DS was just at the clinic for his shots on Monday and they gave me the Canada Food Guide handout for ages 1-3. I've looked it over and determined there was no way on earth I'm going to get that much food in DS. Meats fine, dairy fine, fruits and veggies close, but the grains is the one that seems hopeless. It could be in part that his dad and I don't eat alot of bread/pastas either but 5-10 servings seems like alot of grains to squish into a day. Any ideas on how to get everything in, or is it not a big deal if he's a little short on some areas?

debating · 09-22-2006, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celestine

but 5-10 servings seems like alot of grains to squish into a day.

It is a lot, and I don't intend on following those guidelines. I believe grains should be one of the last foods introduced because, at a year old, they are only just starting to develop the proper enzymes to digest them properly.

We'll introduce whole grains toward the end of her first year, and nothing processed. I doubt by 12 months old she'll 10 servings. In fact, I know she won't. I also feel that at 12 months, food is not much about nutrition, as it is about practice and experience. I certainly don't see how a 12 month and a 3 year old can be in the same category.

I also plan on extended breastfeeding, as I feel children should receive milk as a major part of their diet until 2 years old, hence the reason I'm not concerned about "nutrition" at 12 months old (as the majority of her calories and such will still be milk).

Sherbet · 09-22-2006, 10:08 PM

Grains can be breakfast baby muesli/cereal or a peice of toast (white), little sandwich (white). Whole grains are left till at least 2years as they are very easy to breath in and choke on.

I agree tho, its a lot of grains. My dd doesn't have a big appetite and picks at her finger food but she LOVES kiwi fruit...!!!!

Gayle0000 · 09-24-2006, 12:05 PM

Hi Celestine! Hope all is going well with you.

In our house...DD gets a ton of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. I give her some meat...but just the opposite of your house...we don't eat much meat around here.

For what it's worth...DD has been eating whole grains since she was 9 months old. Never had any problems. I give her real oatmeal and whole grain breads (toast). She also loves to eat cheese sandwiches...so plenty of opportunities for grains.

The advice from my Ped was to not get overly caught up in the daily recommendations, and look more at what they take in over the course of a week...making sure they get a good balance. He says at this age (1 year), appetites slow down because their spurts of growth stabilize compare to when they were babies. Some days they eat a lot, other days they eat just a little...just like adults.

I will have to agree with my Ped...looking at it from a weekly perspective instead of a daily does make life easier, and allows for flexibility.