Healthy Eating Habits Start Early, Study Shows

Healthy eating habits are essentially determined early in life according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the Queensland University of Technology. Findings revealed that parents who enforced nutritious habits at the beginning stages of infancy typically had children who were at lower risk for obesity and chronic illnesses related to weight issues.

"The toddler years are a critical age in the development of long-term food preferences, but this is also the age that autonomy, independence and food fussiness begins," said lead study author Rebecca Byrne from the university, in a news release. 

For the study, researchers analyzed what children between the ages of 12-16 months ate and drank.

As statistics show that childhood obesity in Australia has nearly doubled since 1986, with nearly 21 percent of children between two and three classified as overweight or even obese, researchers recommended that parents incorporate a more nutrient-dense diet via all five food groups for young children; developing these early preferences can help them persist into adulthood. 

"Iron deficiency also remains an issue for toddlers in both developed and developing countries," she added."Although most toddlers were consuming a diverse diet, the amount and type of meat or meat alternatives was poor. Almost all children were consuming foods we would consider completely unnecessary at this age, such as sweet biscuits."

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.