Healthy Eating Habits

There are lots of things you can do to help your baby learn healthy eating habits right from the start. The pages listed below each begin with a short video followed by key messages in English and 9 other languages. You might like to start by watching the video on the page Healthy eating habits: Key messages.

A family eating together at the table

Copyright: Kidshealth

Your baby is learning about food and developing eating habits from the time they start solids. There are lots of things you can do to help your baby learn healthy eating habits right from the start.

Help your baby learn about food by letting them play with it. Encourage their independence – give your baby their own spoon to hold when they can.

Be guided by your baby's appetite. Offer your baby new foods. Let them choose how much to eat - you decide what food is offered, your baby decides how much to eat.

Plan for 3 meals and 1 or 2 snacks each day, once your baby’s eating a variety of foods and textures. Babies have small stomachs so need frequent opportunities to eat small amounts.

It takes a little work to bring everyone together for meals. But it's worth it and the whole family eats better.

Your baby learns about food from watching you. Your baby learns about food from watching you. Be a good role model. You can set a good example by eating a variety of healthy foods.