Infant and Toddler Feeding Practices: Daycare Provider Perspectives

The Avocado Nutrition Center (ANC) conducted a survey of daycare providers to better understand food purchasing behaviors and barriers to establishing healthier dietary patterns for young children.

These findings mirror the Dietary Guidelines for Americans’ recommendation to serve nutrient dense foods that allow for easy eating and swallowing and complement a published literature review supporting the role of avocados as an ideal food for complementary and transitional feeding.

Additionally, the data are consistent with previous ANC surveys that demonstrate the importance of nutrition, and specifically vitamins, minerals, protein, and healthy fats, to parents and caregivers when choosing foods for infants and toddlers.?

DAYCARE PROVIDERS CONSIDER NUTRITION, TASTE, AND WELL-BEING AS MOST IMPORTANT WHEN MAKING FEEDING DECISIONS

Daycare providers say they choose to serve foods and beverages that deliver on health and well-being priorities such as meeting food group recommendations; supporting brain development, physical growth, and development; and satisfying hunger.

AVOCADO NUTRITION ALIGNS WITH DAYCARE PROVIDERS’ NUTRITION PRIORITIES

Avocados are naturally sodium, sugar, and cholesterol-free, and contribute nearly 20 nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and phytonutrients to a toddler’s diet per 25-gram serving.

Download free fact sheet here

DISCONNECT BETWEEN PRIORITIES, CONFIDENCE, AND PURCHASING OF AVOCADOS

When served, avocados are most frequently offered during: Although avocados align with providers’ priorities...

Common ways centers prepare avocados for infants and toddlers:

48% OF DAYCARE PROVIDERS REPORT NOT SERVING AVOCADOS MORE FREQUENTLY, NOT BECAUSE OF A SPECIFIC REASON, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT “TOP OF MIND.”?

DAYCARE PROVIDERS ARE SEEKING EDUCATION AND GUIDANCE

According to a 2016 review paper of more than 100 studies, avocados can play an important role in complementary and transitional feeding.

• Avocados are nutrient-dense, have a soft texture and a neutral flavor profile, all ideal attributes of a first food.
• Avocados can be introduced as a low-sugar fruit option that can help avoid invoking an early preference for sweet foods.
• Positive early experiences with fruits/veggies are more likely to result in lifelong consumption.
• Avocado dietary bioactive components play an important role in infant health.

Download free fact sheet here

Visit www.LoveOneToday.com/avocados-babies for more information on the survey as well as quick and easy baby-friendly recipes that feature avocados.?

From pregnancy to first foods, encourage your clients to show their little ones the amazing world of avocados from the very beginning. Avocados add essential nutrients, like folate and good fats, which can help with the development of the baby’s brain and nervous system. Watch this video to learn more about the health benefits of fresh avocados for babies and toddlers:

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