New Dietary Guidelines Don't Detail Amounts Of Fruits And Vegetables For Kids
HuffPost • • health
Key Points:
- The new U.S. federal dietary guidelines for children are less specific about fruit and vegetable intake compared to previous versions, which may make it harder for parents to know how much produce to feed their kids.
- About half of children under 5 do not eat fruits or vegetables daily, despite their importance for healthy growth, brain development, and lifelong health, according to recent studies and health experts.
- Children ages 5 to 10 are recommended to consume 1 to 2 cups of fruits and vegetables daily, with a preference for whole fruits and vegetables over juices or dried options.
- Fruits and vegetables provide essential nutrients that support brain function, mood, memory, and cognitive development, while inadequate intake is linked to poorer scholastic performance and cognitive abilities.
- Strategies to increase children's fruit and vegetable consumption include making food fun and visually appealing, involving kids in food preparation, pairing produce with flavors they like, and modeling healthy eating behaviors by adults.
