If you've ever met a grown-up who claims that they've always hated peas or asparagus, he or she might not be exaggerating. Food experiences during infancy really do make a difference in later preferences! But, that means if your little ones are crawling now, you can help them Strive for 5 to build a foundation of good eating habits that will last until well after they're running circles around you. Recent research at the University of Tennessee, funded by our friends at Gerber, shows that when a wide variety of fruits and veggies are introduced to children before age two, these same children were more likely to still be eating a wide variety of produce at age six, seven, and eight.

What Every School Kid Should Know and Love
You do the math: The facts undeniably show that we need to change how and when we introduce our children to fruits and vegetables. First, a majority of school-aged children simply do not get the fruits and veggies they need. Only one in five eats the recommended 5 servings a day. That means the other four aren't getting important nutrients from these vital foods. At the same time obesity rates among children are climbing higher than ever! Schools certainly do have a role to play, like taking fourth-graders on a Good Food Tour at Wegmans. But, it's your job as parents to encourage enjoyment of healthy foods long before they step foot on a school bus for the first time!

So, When to Start?
You can introduce pureed fruits and veggies (found in those convenient jars of baby food) as the next food to follow rice cereal, typically an infant's first solid food. Start with a single pureed ingredient, either fruit or veggie, but only one variety at a time. You may add a new food every three to five days. That gives your baby time to get used to the flavor and texture, and you'll be able to accurately identify any possible allergic reaction to the new food before proceeding. At any given meal, introduce a spoonful of a new food followed by a spoonful of a familiar accepted food, such as rice cereal. Once a food, like bananas, becomes accepted, it can be paired with another new food, like carrots. Tricky, huh?

On a developmental note, these nutritious solids also help baby learn to eat from a spoon, an important step that begins between the 4th and 6th month. And, although it's possible to give juice to young infants to slip in a fruit-based beverage, most pediatric nutritionists frown on putting anything other than formula or water in baby's bottle. Believe me, applesauce will probably be a favorite, anyway.

What If That Little Face Says "Yuck!"
Don't misread baby's cues. A baby may make a face worthy of a spot on America's Funniest Home Videos as her way of saying, "What is this? It's new to me." It doesn't necessarily mean, "I don't like this." For a strategy that fosters acceptance, it's helpful to offer new foods when babies are likely to be hungry. You know, when they have that excited look of anticipation as they're placed in the high chair getting ready for a meal. On the other hand, if their meal has been overly delayed, don't frustrate her with unusual foods. If after several attempts your baby refuses a food, respect her preference. It's okay. No one food will make or break an infant's diet.

How Much is Enough?
Start out with 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time. A reasonable portion for older babies is 1/4 cup cooked and mashed fruit or veggies. As a guide, you'll know that babies are "Striving for 5" when they eat 2 1/2 jars of baby fruit and veggies each day. However, be sure to let your baby's appetite drive the amount he eats. Watch his cues and offer as much as he wants. Never force your baby to finish the whole jar or make your toddler "clean the plate." According to Ellyn Satter, an authority on child feeding, it's the parent's responsibility to provide a variety of nutritious choices at each meal. It's the child's responsibility to decide what and how much of that offering will be eaten.

Making Healthy Meals a Family Affair
If your family's not in the habit of serving fruits and vegetables at meals, now is the best time to start! As soon as babies are able to pick things up with their fingers, they should be offered finger foods the rest of the family is having, but carefully selected to avoid the risk of choking, such as small tender bits of cooked fruit and veggies. Need inspiration for what to serve? Get to know our folks in the Produce Department for bushels of healthy and delicious ideas. Also, check out our fun feature on 50 Ways to Eat More Produce for more tips on helping children to enjoy more fruits and veggies. You might even learn a few things for yourself.