ABSTRACT
A child’s first 5 years of life is characterized by rapid growth and development and is the period during which food preferences and behaviors develop that often serve as the foundational basis for future eating habits [1,2]. Beverage consumption patterns developed during the early years can have lasting implications throughout childhood and adolescence and into adult years. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides recommendations for the introduction of beverages to children’s diets. They discourage fruit juice intake before the infant is at least 4-6 months of age and fruit drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks are generally discouraged all together [3-5]. The introduction of cow’s milk is recommended after 1 year of age and low-fat and fat-free varieties are encouraged once children turn 2 years old [3]. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans acknowledge the important link between childhood and adulthood beverage consumption by reinforcing the important habit of drinking milk during childhood because “those who consume milk at an early age are more likely to do so as adults” [6].
