What is heart healthy eating?
A diet high in fat and cholesterol may contribute to the development of heart disease in adulthood. A “heart healthy” diet may help prevent or treat high blood cholesterol levels. The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition recommends that healthy children age 2 years or older follow a diet low in fat (30 percent of calories from fat). These are the same recommendations for healthy adults. A diet high in fat, especially saturated fat, may increase your child’s risk for heart disease and obesity in adulthood. It is important to teach your child about healthy eating so that they can make healthy food choices as adults. It is important not to put children under the age of 2 years on a low fat diet unless advised by your child’s physician. Children under the age of 2 years need fat in their diets to promote appropriate growth and development. What is saturated fat? Saturated fat is a type of fat that is found in foods. This type of fat may raise the body’s total blood cholest
