When should new foods be introduced to infants?

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Prepare for the UCF HUN3011 Human Nutrition Exam. Study with flashcards and questions with explanations. Ace your exam with confidence!

Introducing new foods to infants is generally recommended to occur once a day. This approach allows caregivers to monitor for any potential allergic reactions or intolerances while providing sufficient time for the infant to adjust to the new flavors and textures. Starting with a single food each day enables parents to observe whether the infant enjoys the new food and whether it agrees with their digestive system, thus facilitating a more manageable transition to varied nutrition.

Choosing to introduce new foods too frequently, such as at every meal or twice a day, may overwhelm an infant who is still learning how to eat and might complicate the process of identifying any adverse reactions. The guideline of introducing new foods once daily supports gradual adaptation and is commonly recommended by pediatricians and nutrition experts.