Here’s some food for thought: your baby needs more fat in her diet than you. 

A baby’s dietary needs are different from those of adults, and while low-fat and high-fiber keep you trim, it puts your baby at risk. Some facts:

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Santa Clara County officials vote to ban toys and other promotions that come with high-calorie children’s meals.

After a contentious meeting between parents and restaurant owners, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of banning the Happy Meal in Silicon Valley restaurants.

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Better food choices from schools to movie theaters.

Good news for us parents who want to raise healthy eaters. The U.S. school lunch program is getting a budget increase to improve nutritional quality of food served in public schools.

Senator Blanche Lincoln, chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, unveiled the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which provides $4.5 billion in new child nutrition program funding over 10 years.

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The FDA warns food companies to be honest with their marketing claims.

Don’t take that food label as truth. U.S. health regulators have warned units of Nestle and more than a dozen other foodmakers over nutritional claims made for baby food, nuts and other products on food labels and product websites, according to letters made public last week. The warnings came as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is set to push for new package labeling geared toward making it easier for consumers to understand the nutritional content of the foods they eat.

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Can’t get pregnant? A few lifestyle changes may be in order.

Like we said, it’s never really as simple as have sex, get pregnant. Even a few lifestyle factors can mean boost or bust if you want to have a baby. If you’ve decided you’re ready to be a parent, consider our fertility don’ts. If you want to get pregnant and have a healthy head-start for your baby, time to start kicking some bad habits — or a least practice some self-control.

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Your child may look thinner to you than he actually is.

Dutch researchers say parents often see their children as leaner than their child’s actual measurements would indicate. I think this is significant for parents to think about, considering the rise in obesity among our kids. Not to encourage anorexia here, but you might want to take an honest look at your child to asses if you should be serving him healthier food.

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Curbing your child’s sweet tooth.

I thought we had it good. My daughter loved her veggies and was an even more adventurous eater than her older brother. Fish, chicken, and greens, Japanese-style, Thai or Korean she loved them. But the love for food now extends to sweets. Since school and the birthday party circuit introduced her to the wonderful world of ice cream, candy and cake, it has never been the same.

She thinks I should serve her cookies everyday. She’s now come to crying to me if all I have to offer for desert at home is a piece of fruit. She’ll have the apple or banana eventually… but what is up with the demand for sugary treats? I gathered expert advice on how to help our little sugar junkies.

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Eating out? Get calorie-informed.

Going out for fast food with the kids? Try going to restaurants that list down nutrition information in their menus. According to US researchers, parents who have access to fast-food menus with calorie information tend to choose lower calorie selections for their children.

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Yes, even kids have to watch what they eat.

There’s a United Press International (UPI) Report that claims being obese as early as age 7 may raise a child’s risk for future heart disease and stroke, even in the absence of other risk factors. The story reports on a study undertaken by the Nemours Children’s Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

I think this story is significant even for parents with babies or toddlers. The sooner we start kids off on healthy eating habits, the better. The threat of future heart disease is just one reason.

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How much milk does your toddler really need?

When your child hits one year old, you may be worried about how much less milk she’s willing to take. Solids will dominate her diet now, but milk still has to be a major part of her daily food intake. However, do expect changes in food versus milk needs. Experts clarify exactly how much milk your toddler should be having.

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