September

September 2001: Highlights from the Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Below are summaries of several nutrition research articles published in the September 2001 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. For more information, or to receive a copy of a JADA article, please call Bridget McManamon 800/877-1600, ext. 4769; or e-mail bmcmana@eatright.org.

Feeding infants: A "How To" for parents

"Should my baby be breast fed or bottle fed?" "Can solid foods be given too soon?" "How do I know if my baby has eaten enough?" These are a few questions new and experienced parents may ask themselves. Wouldn't it be nice to have a list of do's and don'ts when it comes to the health of your child? University of Iowa researchers say these are some of the things all parents of newborns and infants should do. However, these are general recommendations. Parents and caregivers should see a health-care professional for specialized care.

  • Every mother should be encouraged to breast feed her infant, but not pressured to.
  • Every infant should be given an injection of vitamin K as soon as possible after birth.
  • While in the hospital, every woman who breast feeds her infant should be given instructions about breast feeding.
  • Follow-up approximately 48 hours after leaving the hospital should be arranged for women who breast feed.
  • Every breast-fed infant should receive a daily supplement of iron and vitamin D.
  • Formula-fed infants should receive iron-fortified formulas.
  • Caregivers should establish habits of feeding in moderation. Infants should not be force-fed.
  • Introduction of solid foods should be deferred until the infant eating skills develop.
  • Solid foods should be carefully selected.
  • Cow's milk should not be given to infants under one year of age.

Set goals for a healthy diet

Can people really change their diet and stick with it just by making up their mind to do it? Researchers from the Brooklyn College of the City University of New York found that a combination of goal setting and self-monitoring of food intake significantly enhances dietary behavior change. Researchers studied fiber intake in 139 college students and randomly assigned them to one of four treatment groups: goal setting, self-monitoring, goal setting and self-monitoring and no goal setting with no self-monitoring. Results showed that the goal setting group and the goal setting and self-monitoring group had a significant increase in dietary fiber consumption, indicating that setting specific goals and keeping written monitoring records are essential for achieving dietary change. Researchers suggest dietetics professionals should incorporate this strategy into nutrition education or counseling programs to enhance dietary behavior change among patients.