Introducing New Foods

Children need to be brought into healthy habits of adult eating gradually. No child should be fed solid food until they are at least six months old, and even then only simple foods that are hypoallergenic. Bringing too many complex foods into their diet too quickly can get them to develop allergies that might stay with them their whole life. If you detect an allergic reaction to a particular food, take it out of their diet as soon as you can. You don't want them to start becoming afraid of new foods, or you will have serious trouble getting them into healthy eating habits when they get older.

Cow's milk, dairy products, eggs and citrus should all be avoided until your child is at least one year old. These products can all excite allergic reactions within a young child's gastrointestinal system. If you introduce a particular food too early in their development, they will learn to avoid it because of the poor reaction their body had to it. Many picky eaters are made this way.

If you manage to introduce new foods at a graduated pace, your child will be far better prepared to jump into a healthy, balanced diet when they get older. Don't ruin your child's appetite for healthy food during this period by feeding them massive amounts of fast food, soda and candy. These formative years are critical in getting them to form habits for healthy eating that integrates all of the major food groups.