Baby-Led Weaning Helps Babies Pick Healthier Foods

Pureed foods may not promote healthy eating habits according to a new study by the University of Nottingham. Researchers for the college have revealed that babies who are weaned to solid finger foods are more likely to prefer healthier foods and are also less likely to be overweight that their spoon fed counterparts.

The study used websites and the Nottingham Toddler Lab to collect feeding data from mothers of children between the ages of 20 months and 6 and a half years. The researchers found that the baby led weaning group preferred carbohydrates, while the spoon fed group preferred sweet foods.

According to co-researcher Dr. Nicola Pitchford, “(the) study has produced some very interesting findings. The research suggests that baby-led weaning has a positive impact on the liking of foods that form the building blocks of healthy nutrition, such as carbohydrates. Baby-led weaning promotes healthy food preferences in early childhood which may protect against obesity.”

Source: sciencedaily.com