Question

If a mother wanted to DECREASE the likelihood that her infant would grow into a picky eater later in life, she should a) bottle feed. b) give the infant a wide variety of foods. c) give the infant a diet exclusively consisting of fruits and vegetables. d) avoid eating spicy foods.

Answer 1

To reduce the chance of a child becoming a picky eater, mothers should expose infants to a wide variety of food option (b), ensuring a balance in nutrition from all five food groups and fostering healthy eating habits from an early age.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to decrease the likelihood of an infant becoming a picky eater later in life, a mother should introduce the baby to a variety of foods. This broad introduction will expose the infant to different tastes and textures, thereby reducing tendencies toward pickiness.

While it is essential to incorporate fruits and vegetables into the diet, it should not be limited to these types, as eating a range of foods from all five food groups is important for the child's nutritional balance. This will also help in cultivating healthy eating habits, which in turn assists in preventing diseases such as obesity and type-2 diabetes.

Physical activity, along with a balanced diet, is a crucial part of a child's health education. Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are in place to encourage young children, including infants, to consume more vegetables at home, further emphasizing the importance of an early introduction to a variety of foods in childhood nutrition.

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