Evidence shows that dietary habits are formed and sustained if appropriate feeding is established during the first stages of life. This is the ultimate goal of these new dietary guidelines. They are aimed at promoting good nutrition for infants to thrive well, and safeguards against malnutrition;protection against non communicable diseases as well as the promotion of a healthy weight for life. .
The aim of the new Maltese Dietary Guidelines for Maltese Infants and Young children, ages 6 months to 3 years is to promote good nutrition for infants to thrive well; to safeguard against malnutrition and to protect against non-communicable diseases whilst promoting a healthy weight for life. The guidelines provide parents and caregivers knowledge about the variety of food groups, the type and the amounts of food introduced during complementary feeding according to their infant’s age in months.
Foods containing salt, sugar and saturated fats should be avoided as from this early stage of life for good physical, mental and oral health. For this reason, home prepared foods by parents and/or caregivers, without the addition of non-nutrients and empty calories, are a better option compared to commercially prepacked meals and snacks since the latter tend to contain them in amounts that may be harmful to infants both short and long-term.
These guidelines also emphasise food safety, socialisation, physical activity, sleep as well as oral health.