Eat Those Fruits and Veggies!

Many moms think that eating a bland diet when breastfeeding will help to avoid any type of gastrointestinal distress in the baby. The fact is, the more exposure a baby has to foods in your diet, the more willing he will be to try new foods when he is introduced to solids. He'll have tasted different spices and flavors and will be more accepting of these foods when offered.

Recent research from the Monell Chemical Senses Center has shown that early sensory experiences can influence the development of healthy eating patterns. One of the authors of the study, Dr. Julie A. Mennella, states that "flavors from the mother's diet are transmitted through amniotic fluid and mother's milk. So, a baby learns to like a food's taste when the mother eats that food on a regular basis."

So go ahead...eat everything from simple leafy greens to 5-Alarm Chili! It will make dinnertime that much more exciting in the months to come.