CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — New dietary guidelines are recommending that infants 2 years and under should have no added sugar.
That means no cakes or candies for your toddlers.
The government's dietary guidelines have been updated every 5 years since 1980 are put in place to help the general public. It aims to promote good health for a long life.
This is especially true for older people who reflect to how they grew up.
"A lot of these kids were not raised like we were when we were young," Helen Hough of Rockport said. "They don’t eat a lot of salads or a lot of vegetables.”
“We don’t have much candy, lots of vegetables and stuff and good foods,” added Robert Vana.
Others are willing to satisfy a craving.
According to kidshealth.org, one of the key rules to raising a healthy child is setting an example by choosing nutritious snacks, eating at the table and not skipping meals.
The government dietary guidelines also recommends feeding only breast milk for at least 6 months and providing no added sugars for children under the age of 2.
Dr. Eric Baggerman, a pediatrician at Amistad Communtiy Health Center, says these guidelines are recommendations for the greater good of the community by helping them choose a healthy diet.
“While there may be some controversy between the numbers they recommend or put out, the general guidelines are good for all of us,” Baggerman said.
The ultimate goal of setting guidelines is to help policy makers as they look at food and nutrition laws as they aimi to help the public.
“Obesity is one big factor in our health," Baggerman says. "Diet is the biggest contributing factor to that so its important that we focus on that.”
While advice like loading up your plate with fruits and vegetables sounds familiar, Baggerman explains how keeping everything in moderation is essential.
Using the Choose My Plate method can be useful.
“It uses your hand and says hey this is the size of a protein serving, this is the size of a carbohydrate serving,” he said.
Baggerman says to notice that healthy foods typically are found at the outer edges of the store.
