Children's Menu

By Christine Gorman

Kids develop the darnedest eating habits. You've heard of the purity rule: potatoes and carrots must never touch, or they're "contaminated." Or the idea that any food is fine as long as it's peanut butter. I've even heard of youngsters who won't eat vegetables except in Chinese restaurants. But that hasn't stopped the experts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture from coming up with a new set of guidelines, published last week in the form of a pint-size food pyramid, to help parents and teachers encourage kids to eat a healthy, balanced diet.

Now before you say, "Oh, that will never work!" consider the following. Two studies out in the past two weeks show just how important it is to adopt good eating habits early in life. One study published in Circulation found that children who gain a lot of weight as youngsters develop more risk factors for heart disease as adults. The other study, in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that, as a group, black and Hispanic children eat significantly more fat than their white counterparts, which may help explain why heart disease is more prevalent among minority groups. Both findings show that the effort to instill healthy eating habits in your children is likely to pay off in the long run.

Overall, the new food pyramid for children is a winner. It's clear, engaging and has practical tips on everything from introducing your child to new foods (by making a game of choosing new fruits for the family) to helping 2- and 3-year-olds avoid choking (by cutting hot dogs lengthwise into thin strips). Another smart feature is the food pyramid's emphasis on physical activity. Vigorous play not only helps kids grow strong but also can make them hungry enough to try a wider variety of foods.

The USDA last week caught flack from the soft-drink industry for including a picture of a soda can in the fats-and-sweets category that children should consume only sparingly. But the agency has reason to be concerned. According to its survey data, 37% of children ages 3 to 5 drink carbonated beverages, up from 29% in the late 1970s. The mere fact of drinking soda is not a problem; it's how much a child drinks that can get her into trouble. The USDA determined that children who drink soda consume about 10 oz. a day, or 40% of their daily fluid intake. Most of that soda, of course, contains few if any nutrients and may displace healthier foods.

What kids like most about soft drinks is the fizz, says Dr. Lillian Beard, associate clinical professor of pediatrics at George Washington University. "I encourage the parents in my practice to take a little sparkling water and mix it in with their children's fruit juice to make a healthier 'soda,'" she says. "Make sure to use 100% fruit juice and sparkling water that doesn't have any added sodium or sugar."

Even at that, you don't want too much fruit juice to displace other foods in your child's diet. Otherwise, he or she will miss out on fiber, vitamins and other nutrients in whole fruit, and calcium from milk, yogurt and other dairy products. One final caution: the USDA's food guide does not apply to toddlers under the age of 2, who have their own very specific nutritional needs. Soon enough, though, they'll be lobbying you for something from the chip group and something from the chocolate group.

For more on children's nutrition, visit www.usda.gov/cnpp or time.com/personal E-mail Christine at gorman@time.com