Early Childhood Nutrition: Sugars, Salt, and Fats: Getting Your Head Around

Sugars, salt and fats in the early years: orienting yourself with awareness

The first years of life represent a delicate and precious phase for the construction of future eating habits.
During weaning and in the first years of complementary feeding, sugars, salt, and fats should not be demonized, but rather managed carefully, taking into account the frequency of consumption, the quantity, and the quality of the foods offered.

The goal is not perfection, but to create a balanced, peaceful and coherent eating environment.

Sugars in early childhood: less is more, especially at the beginning

In the first two years of life, the main international guidelines suggest limiting exposure to added sugars as much as possible.

Frequent and early consumption of sugars in the first years of life can in fact:

• encourage an excessive preference for the sweet taste;
• increase the risk of tooth decay;
• make it more difficult to accept naturally less sweet foods.

This does not mean that children should grow up in a rigid environment or without any sweet foods, but that daily life should be based on simple and natural flavors.

Sugars in infant nutrition: daily practice:

• favor the natural sweetness of fruit and vegetables;
• propose natural white yogurt;
• reserve sweet foods or baked goods for specific occasions, as part of an overall balanced diet.

It is the daily repetition, not the single food, that makes the difference.

A child's palate is educated: less sugar today means more balance tomorrow .

Salt in the early childhood: accustoming the taste to natural flavour:

In the first months and years of life, a child's kidneys are still maturing. For this reason, added salt should be avoided. in the first year and severely limited thereafter as well.

Excessive early exposure to salt can influence future taste preferences and lead to higher consumption of salty foods over time.

The Italian Society of Pediatrics emphasizes that excessive salt consumption in the early years:

• increase the risk of future hypertension;
• you change your taste preferences early;
• favors a less varied diet.

Infant Feeding: Helpful Strategies:

• cooking without salt for the baby;
• flavor with aromatic herbs and delicate spices;
• pay attention to the salt content of ready-made foods.

Educating the palate from an early age means helping the child appreciate the authentic taste of food.

Fats in the Early childhood : fundamental, but must be chosen carefully

Fats are an essential nutrient in the early years of life, especially for the development of the brain and nervous system.
The point is not to reduce them, but to focus on quality .

Infant Nutrition: What to Prioritize:

• extra virgin olive oil (raw);
• fish (when introduced);
• avocado;
• dried fruit in the form of 100% creams.

Infant Nutrition: What to Limit

• low-quality fats;
• products rich in saturated and trans fats consumed frequently.

A varied and balanced diet allows you to cover your needs without excess.

A key message for parents

You don't have to be perfect.
Awareness , gradualness and a consistent eating environment are required.

There is no need to eliminate, prohibit or create anxiety around food.
What matters much more is what the child eats every day, as a whole.

Healthy eating in the early years:

• does not rely on daily added sugars;
• does not require salt;
• includes good quality fats;
• leaves room for flexibility and conviviality.

This is how you build a balanced relationship with food that is destined to last over time.

In summary…

1. Reduce the frequency of added sugars
2. Limit salt
3. Choose quality fats
4. Focus on variety, simplicity and good example

Note

For those who wish to learn more, it is always possible to refer to official documents from national and international scientific bodies, such as WHO , EFSA, the Italian Society of Pediatrics, and the Italian Society of Human Nutrition, which provide guidance based on up-to-date scientific evidence.

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Bèbeboom's proposals for weaning made in Italy