The first one thousand days of a person’s life determine, to a large extent, their health in their childhood, teenage years and even adulthood. During the first stages, eating habits, along with physical activity, may make a difference in a person’s quality of life. A correct and balanced diet–according to someone’s age, sex, physical activity, and food availability–can determine a person’s health and wellbeing, as well as the chronic ailments they might suffer in the future.

It is believed that nutrition and care in the first 28 days following birth determine a person’s growth and development. Accordingly, several research studies confirm the importance of breastfeeding. Once a baby is born, a substance known as colostrum is produced. This substance provides the baby with all the nutrients necessary during their first days of life. Colostrum is rich in carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins and minerals. What is more, it contains antibodies, anti-infective agents, anti-inflammatory factors, enzymes, and hormones–all essential for the baby’s growth and development.

In the days following colostrum production, mammary glands start regulating milk production. Breast milk represents the best nutritional alternative for most newborns, even premature or ill ones. In very exceptional occasions, when there is a medical contraindication, breastfeeding should be suspended. Other than that, breast milk is and will continue to be the best food option for babies. 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is advisable to feed babies during their first six months exclusively with breast milk since, as previously mentioned, it contains all the nutrients needed for their quick growth and development which takes place during this time. Breast milk is rich in proteins and fatty acids, which makes it ideal for the growth of babies; milk composition also changes as the baby grows in order to meet their nutritional needs. However, even if breast milk is the ideal food along this stage of life, babies will need to get additional Vitamin D since birth, and iron when they turn four months old.

Breastfeeding has proven beneficial not only for the baby, but for the mother too. Babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of suffering illnesses such as asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, gastrointestinal infections, among others. Moreover, a woman who breastfeeds is believed to have a lower chance at suffering breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. In addition to the physical health and nutritional benefits for the baby, breastfeeding benefits both the mother and the infant at psychological, physiological and emotional levels. Sadly, survey shows that in Mexico only three out of ten babies are breastfed during their first six months.

Oftentimes, when there are certain situations that make breastfeeding impossible, infant formula milk is an alternative. Infant formula has been created trying to imitate breast milk, yet up to now it hasn’t been possible to match it entirely. It is true these products are regulated and have to meet criteria regarding high protein concentration to guarantee they fulfill the nutritional needs of babies. Some research has shown high protein concentrations (1.3 g/dl infant formula vs 0.9 g/dl breast milk) during the first six months of life are related to a proneness to suffering from obesity, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

After the first six months, the World Health Organization suggests to carry on with breastfeeding combined with complementary food, extending it even up to two years of age or more. A specialist in children’s health and breastfeeding should lead the introduction of new foods; this expert should determine the right type of food and its amount both for the baby and the mother.

Adding complementary solid foods to a baby’s diet provides nutrients needed which breast milk cannot supply after a certain time.

Cereals are the first type of food to be incorporated and then–gradually–fruit, vegetable and legume purées. Finally, mashed meat and chicken are also integrated. The introduction of these different food groups, other than meeting nutritional needs, develops chewing capacity and, if combined with breastfeeding, also lowers the possibilities of developing allergies. 

As previously mentioned, foods specifically developed for infants have to comply with the applicable regulation, one that sets strict quality standards–not having preservatives, nor added sugar or salt. To counteract iron-deficiency anemia, a great deal of these foods are fortified with iron–such is the case of cereals and minced meat.

From their first birthday up to the three years of age, children keep on growing–at a slower pace compared to their first year of life. At the end of this period, they rich fifty per cent of the height they will have as adults; that is why those first one thousand days are considered critical for their health in the following stages and even for the rest of their lives. In addition to reaching cognitive development and organ and system maturity, eating habits foundations are laid over this first period. Without a doubt, this could have a positive impact on the prevention of non-communicable diseases.

Once toddlers join school, the amount of energy needed will increase as they grow–it is necessary to provide them with a balanced, proper diet with the right amounts and portions to cover all their nutritional needs. It has been observed that when a person has access to healthy, convenient and appealing food, they make better diet decisions. In this respect, legislation on the matter contributes both to the promotion of a healthy diet for kids and the preservation of adequate health, water, cleaning, education and social protection systems. 

All of this plays a key role in the advocacy for a right diet for children. Nowadays, the industry offers products which have been reformulated in order to provide health benefits and tackle malnutrition. Nonetheless, the impact these products might have on child health would depend on various elements such as nutrition education, eating habits, and consumption habits of families.

Unfortunately, poor nutrition in all its different levels affects one out of three children. According to information released by UNICEF in 2019, poor nutrition hinders growth and/or fosters obesity. The triple impact poor nutrition–malnutrition, hidden hunger (vitamin and mineral deficiency), and obesity–has results in direct consequences on the survival, growth and development of children at the same time it impacts a country’s economy and development.

Fostering a suitable nutrition and a healthy diet are essential to proper child development. A healthy lifestyle during childhood and adolescence reduces the occurrence of health issues later in life. A healthy lifestyle includes positive eating habits, physical activity and exercise. According to data reported by the Mexican National Health Survey (Encuesta Nacional de Salud), over more than eighty per cent of the children in the country does not have proper physical activity.

Moreover, hydration is also part of good eating habits. A proper hydration allows for the integration of necessary fluids for the right functioning of the body and the recovery of liquids lost after physical activity and exercise. Plain water, milk, diary drinks, fresh fruit juice, soups, fruits and vegetables are great alternatives to keep fluid levels in the body. Making food and drinks part of children’s diets largely depends on the decisions made by their parents or caretakers since kids’ diet rests on the environment they live in.

That is why it is of the utmost importance to support food education among those in charge of children’s wellbeing and emphasize the positive impact an expert guidance could have on their quality of life.

• Claro, H. (s/f-a). Leche materna y fórmulas infantiles. Hablemosclaro.org. Recuperado el 25 de abril de 2023, de https://www.hablemosclaro.org/leche-materna-y-formulas-infantiles
• Claro, H. (s/f-b). Los primeros 1000 días de vida para prevenir la obesidad infantil. Hablemosclaro.org. Recuperado el 25 de abril de 2023, de https://hablemosclaro.org/los-primeros-1000-dias-de-vida-para-prevenir-la-obesidad-infantil/

1. Ejecutivo, R. (s/f). Crecer bien en un mundo en transformación. Unicef.org. Recuperado el 25 de abril de 2023, de https://www.unicef.org/media/61091/file/Estado-mundial-infancia-2019-resumen-ejecutivo.pdf

• Nutrición en niños y adolescentes. (s/f). Eufic.org. Recuperado el 25 de abril de 2023, de https://www.eufic.org/es/vida-sana/articulo/nutricion-en-ninos-y-adolescentes
• (S/f). Cdc.gov. Recuperado el 25 de abril de 2023, de https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/breastfeeding/spanish/recomendaciones-y-beneficios.htm/