To Your Health
March, 2008 (Vol. 02, Issue 03)
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continued...

There are some foods you might want to avoid in the diet of a young infant, including:

  1. Gluten. This is a protein found in certain cereals which might lead to a child developing celiac disease.

  2. Salt. Avoid adding salt to your baby's food. Their miniature kidneys might not be able to process the sodium.

  3. Sugar. Restrict the amount and frequency of sugary foods and drinks. Young teeth possibly can be damaged from a very early age.

  4. Shellfish. Many types of shellfish cause an allergic reaction, and some fish (shark, marlin and swordfish) could contain high levels of methyl mercury, which can affect the nervous system.

  5. Whole/chopped nuts. These can present a choking risk. Peanuts also have been linked to allergy in some families.

  6. Honey. You should avoid honey in infants less than 1 year of age, as it might contain harmful bacteria.

The following are serving suggestions for the average 2-year-old:

*Food Guide Pyramid
Servings Per Day 1 Serving Equals
GRAINS
6 servings per day
• 1/4-1/2 slice of bread
• 1/4 cup cereal, rice or pasta
• 1/4 cup dry cereal
• 1-2 crackers
VEGETABLES
3 servings per day
• Cooked vegetables
• 1 tablespoon for every year of age
FRUITS
2-3 servings per day
• 1/4 cup fruit
• 1/2 piece fresh fruit
• 1/4-1/2 cup juice
DAIRY
2-3 servings per day
• 1 cup milk
• 2 ounces processed cheese
• 1-1/2 ounces natural cheese
• 1 cup yogurt
PROTEIN
2 ounces per day
• 1 ounce of solid meat (two 1-inch cubes)
• 2 tablespoons of ground meat
• 2 tablespoons of cooked dry beans
• 1/2 egg, any size

Richard Drucker, ND, is a licensed naturopath who has been performing concentrated research and work in the natural health and nutraceutical fields for more than 20 years. He is the CEO of Drucker Labs (www.druckerlabs.com).