Coca-cola, baby!

My husband was waiting in the airport yesterday and came upon a mother who was giving coca-cola to her 10-month old daughter. Quite honestly, he was appalled, and so was I when he told me. (As an aside, I was equally appalled when I once saw a child of about the same age sucking/chewing on a french fry at McDonald’s and even moreso since watching “Supersize Me.”) Good nutrition is so important in a young child's development.

What should a 10-month-old be drinking? I’m pretty sure (thanks to logic) that nature intended for babies to drink their mothers’ milk. Tons of research has proven again and again that it is the best option. (Don’t believe me? Surf the net and read what Dr. Jack Newman has to say about it. He works for Sick Kids’ Hospital in Toronto.)

Here in Canada (and in much of the developed world) we have the luxury of eating for pleasure. We are excessively surviving, if you will. Many of us can eat whatever we want whenever we want. And unfortunately sometimes the healthier options are the more expensive ones.

But all of this begs the question, when is it appropriate to start giving your child junk food? When should people first settle down to a bag of chips and an ice cold coke?