Healthy eating is important to your child's growth and development. Our healthy eating guidelines can help you make healthy choices and model healthy behaviours for your child.
Featured Topics
Breastfeeding
Breast milk is the only food or drink your baby needs for the first 6 months. Learn more about the benefits of breastfeeding, when to offer your baby breastmilk and how to know if your baby is getting enough milk. Find tips on what to eat and drink when you are breastfeeding, and when to ask for help from your health care provider. For preterm infants, Perinatal Services BC provides a breastfeeding resource.
- Breastfeeding (HealthLinkBC File #70)
- Perinatal Services BC: Breastfeeding Your Early Preterm Infant (PDF, 2.75MB)
Formula Feeding
For babies who cannot be breastfed, commercially bought infant formula is recommended. Learn how to choose infant formula, what equipment is needed for feeding, how often to offer formula, and how to safety store and prepare infant formula.
- Formula Feeding Your Baby: Getting Started (HealthLinkBC File #69a)
- Formula Feeding Your Baby: Safely Preparing and Storing Formula (HealthLinkBC File #69b)
Baby's First Foods
At 6 months of age, your baby needs more nutrients and is ready to start trying solid foods. Learn how to introduce your baby to solid food and how much food to offer. These resources also provide tips and recipes to help get you started.
- Baby's First Foods (HealthLinkBC File #69c)
- Feeding Your Baby: Sample Meals for Babies 6 to 12 Months of Age
- Finger Foods for Babies 6 - 12 Months
- Healthy Eating Guidelines for Your Vegetarian Baby: 6-12 months
- Iron-Fortified Infant Cereal Recipes: Finger Foods For Babies and Toddlers
- Recipes for Your Baby 6 - 9 Months Old
- Recipes for Your Baby 9 - 12 Months Old
Feeding Your Toddler
You can work together with your child to help them to eat well. For tips on how to help toddlers learn to eat a variety of healthy foods, and for meal and snack ideas, click on the links below.
- Healthy Eating Guidelines for Your Vegetarian Toddler: 1-3 years
- Helping Your 1 to 3 Year Old Child Eat Well (HealthLinkBC File #69d)
- Meal and Snack Ideas for Your 1 to 3 Year Old Child (HealthLinkBC File #69e)
Food Allergy
Food allergy happens when the body mistakes a food as harmful. An allergic reaction is the body's immune system fighting back. To learn more about food allergies and your children, click on the link below.
- Severe Food Allergies in Children and Teenagers (HealthLinkBC File #100a)
- Reducing Risk of Food Allergy in Your Baby
- Eczema and Food Allergy in Babies and Young Children
Food Safety
Learn what steps you can take to help protect your child from food-borne illness and other common food safety issues such as mercury, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, energy drinks, salt, vitamin A, flax seed and oil, and choking hazards.
- Food Safety in Children Older than 1 Year: General Information
- Food Safety in Children Older than 1 Year: Preventing Foodborne Illness
Useful Websites
Healthy Families BC
The Healthy Families BC website provides useful information on general healthy eating and provides up-to-date and practical information, useful tools and resources for women, expectant parents, and families with babies and toddlers. These resources provide information to help you have a healthy pregnancy, give your baby a good start in life, and support your healthy future together.
