Wed 23 Aug 2006
The American Heart Association has dietary recommendations for infants, children and adolescents to promote cardiovascular health:
Start in Infancy:
* Breast-feeding is ideal nutrition and sufficient to support optimal growth and development for about the first 4–6 months after birth. Try to maintain breast-feeding for 12 months. Transition to other sources of nutrients should begin at about 4–6 months of age to ensure sufficient micronutrients in the diet.
* Delay introducing 100 percent juice until at least 6 months of age and limit to no more than 4–6 oz/day. Juice should only be fed from a cup.
* Don’t overfeed infants and young children. Children shouldn’t be forced to finish meals if they aren’t hungry as they often vary caloric intake from meal to meal.
* Introduce healthy foods and keep offering them if they’re initially refused. Don’t introduce foods without overall nutritional value simply to provide calories.


