A balanced diet should include:
- Fruits and vegetables. Combined these should be half of what your child eats every day.
- Grains Make sure at least half of their grains are whole grains, such as oatmeal, whole wheat bread and brown rice.
- Dairy Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy foods.
- Lean proteins. Make lean protein choices, such as lean beef, skinless poultry and fish.
Try to vary protein choices to include eggs, beans, peas and legumes, too. Eat at least 8 oz. of seafood a week.
In addition to a nutritious diet, snacking habits, bottles and pacifiers also impact your child’s oral health. Here are some tips to keep your child’s mouth healthy:
- Place only formula, milk or breast milk in bottles. Avoid filling the bottle with liquids such as sugar water, juice or soft drinks.
- Infants should finish their bedtime and naptime bottles before going to bed.
If your child uses a pacifier, provide one that is clean—don’t dip it in sugar or honey, or put it in your mouth before giving it to the child. - Encourage children to drink from a cup by their first birthday and discourage frequent or prolonged use of sippy cups.
- Serve nutritious snacks and limit sweets to mealtimes.
