At WTPD, we strongly believe that appropriate nutrition contributes to enhanced oral and general health.
The current nutrition guide by USDA called My Plate represents a plate and glass divided into 5 food groups:
- Half the plate to include vegetables (40%) and fruits (10%)
- 30% grains and 20% protein
- A small amount of dairy such as milk or yogurt
General recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry:
- A diet high in certain sugars and starches may place your children at a greater risk for tooth decay
- Limit starchy foods such as pasta, bread, potato chips and crackers and sticky foods such as dried fruits, toffee to meal times
- Avoid frequent snacking between meals, choose nutritious snacks and reserve sugar containing snacks for special occasions
- Consider looking beyond the sugar bowl and the candy dish to limit the amount of sugar intake – processed foods such as peanut butter, ketch up, salad dressings can all have added sugars
- For toddlers, fruit juice of no more than 4-6 oz should only be offered in a cup during meal times
For more information on planning your child’s meals refer to https://www.choosemyplate.gov/dietary-guidelines