An important first step is for parents to be smart food consumers. Parents need to look past advertising and packaging claims and read the labels carefully. Many of us think juice is juice, but nutritionists say that's not the case. Parents need to look for products that are 100-percent pure fruit juice. Those products may taste good but don't have any real nutritional value.
Parents do best to stick with pure juice.
Parents also can help their children make the transition from liquid to solid foods. Kids start developing the skills they need to pick up food and properly chew and swallow it when they're between 10 and 12-months old. Here's a tip to make the move easier on both parent and child. If junior doesn't like those tasty green beans the first time out, serve it another time. Try to get him to eat at least one bite before you give up, but don't make a big fuss if he won't.