Health Update: 3 Ways to Help Your Baby Love Fruits & Veggies

A new study reveals some smart tricks to make the transition to solid foods smoother.

Boost Your Own Veggie Intake
When peaches were first introduced, breastfed babies ate more of them than non-breastfeed babies -- if their moms ate lots of peaches while nursing too. "We know flavors from a mom's diet are transmitted to her baby through breast milk," says study author Julie A. Mennella, PhD, a biopsychologist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia.

The lesson: When you eat plenty of produce while pregnant and breastfeeding, your baby's palate is naturally predisposed to like those foods too. A friendly reminder: You should aim for three cups of vegetables and two cups of fruits a day (though most adults fall way short of these recommendations). The best way to get all that in? Eat some with every meal or snack. For example: A glass of OJ and a cup of berries in breakfast cereal, baby carrots as a midmorning snack, an apple or banana with peanut butter in the afternoon, and a large salad with dinner every night is about what you need to stay healthy -- and get your baby off to a good start too.

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