Adult food labels list calories from fat, amount of saturated fat, and the amount of cholesterol to help adults make healthful food choices. Infant food labels omit the detailed listing of fat information because infants need fat as a concen trated calorie source to fuel their rapid growth. Efforts to limit fat in the infant diet are unwise. Health professionals do not endorse feeding reduced-fat dairy products such as skim milk to infants under two years. Whole milk is an important source of calories for infants who no longer receive breast milk or formula.
Every baby is an individual, with individual food likes.
Food choices that lead to dietary variety in the first two years can play an important role in developing lifelong healthy eating patterns. Serving a variety of foods, from all major food groups, provides the balance needed to begin a natural moderation of fat intake after two years of age. By reading the new infant food label, parents can select a nutritious variety of foods for their baby's healthful diet. Tips on Variety Offer infants foods that help establish a lifetime of good eating habits. Fruits and Vegetables Fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamin C and beta-carotene.