@the.baby.dietitian: Part one 🙌🏻 Reminder: Dietary preferences are formed by a combination of a complex interplay of genetic, familiar and environmental factors. This is just one approach and it may not work for all families. For children under 24 months of age here are some tips: ✅For toddlers under the age of two, added sugars shouldn’t be part of a regular diet. If you would like to serve something sweet, try using naturally occurring sugars like those found in fruit. ✅By limiting added sugars before two years of age, you’ll get a head start on helping your child develop taste preference for a wide variety of nutrient dense foods. ✅Role model healthy eating to your child by consuming a variety of nutritious foods. ✅If purchasing baby food products, choose brands/products that contain 0g added sugar and aim to cook whole foods whenever possible. ✅Allow added sugar in moderation if you desire (smash cake as an example) aiming for 90% nutrient dense food intake and 10% less nutrient dense foods. Key Point ⬇️ Parents may be unaware of the negative consequences their food communication can have on children.13 Research on family groups, found weight and lifestyle choices were discussed in a highly moralised way.13 For example, parents believed it was their job to tell children of the dangers of “fatness.” Additionally, children reported parents used negatively framed messages and scare tactics when discussing eating habits. The authors highlighted these negative messages may lead to children focusing on their weight, or dieting, as opposed to more positive behaviors.13 Conceivably, if parents were aware of the impact of their words and were supported to adopt positive food communication strategies, this may have a powerful effect on engaging children in healthful eating behaviours and preventing disordered eating. Norton L, Parkinson J, Harris N, Darcy M, Hart L. Parental food communication and child eating behaviours: A systematic literature review. Health Promot J Austral. 2023; 34(2): 366–78. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.604 ✨Come back tomorrow for part ✌🏻 of my realistic approach to handling sugar in the diet.

Cindy S. RD, IBCLC

Open In TikTok:

Region: US

Wednesday 29 July 2026 14:43:19 GMT