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Growing at the Table

Insights on feeding development, learning to eat, and creating calm, connected mealtimes.

Browse by topic or search for specific feeding concerns.

Innate vs. Learned Feeding: Understanding Your Child’s Eating Habits

This blog delves into the fascinating world of how babies develop their eating habits, balancing innate instincts and learned behaviors. From their natural preference for sweet flavors to the instinctual aversion to bitter foods, babies come into the world with built-in tendencies that help ensure their survival. As they grow, their food preferences are shaped by repeated exposure, family influences, and the emotional connections they form with food. We also explore the role of epigenetics and how experiences can modify taste preferences, as well as the challenge of food neophobia—fear of new foods—which is common in toddlers. By understanding these processes, parents can support their child’s eating journey and foster healthy, stress-free mealtimes.

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Trusting a Child’s Intuition: How Dr. Clara Marie Davis Revolutionized Infant Feeding

This blog explores the groundbreaking work of Dr. Clara Marie Davis, a pioneering physician who revolutionized the way we understand child feeding. In the 1920s, when strict dietary prescriptions led to widespread food refusal in children, Davis conducted a radical experiment that allowed infants to select their own foods without adult interference. Her findings laid the foundation for responsive feeding, proving that children can self-regulate their intake and develop healthy eating habits when provided with a supportive environment and nutritious options. Read on to discover how her research continues to shape modern feeding practices.

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All, Feeding Development, Nutrition and Growth Argie Pitsakis All, Feeding Development, Nutrition and Growth Argie Pitsakis

Impact of Nutrition on Cognitive Development

In today's blog post, we underscore the vital significance of a diverse, nutritious diet for a child's development. We delve into the impact of nutrition on cognitive functions like memory, attention, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Research findings on nutrition's positive and negative effects across various developmental domains, including academics, mood, behavior, and language skills, are presented.

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