Page

Food and nutrition

Learn how to set your child on a path to healthy habits for life.

A small child is being fed by spoon
UNICEF South Africa/2022/Richard Townsend
  1. Home
  3. Food and nutrition

Healthy eating habits count from the very start. Here’s how to fuel your child’s development and prepare the ground for lasting health.

I'm interested in...

Breastfeeding
First foods
Healthy habits for life

Arrow

Breastfeeding 

Did you know that breastfeeding protects your baby from ear infections, diarrhoea, pneumonia and other childhood diseases?

Explainer

Busted: 14 myths about breastfeeding

"You should only eat plain food while breastfeeding." Fact or fiction?

Read now
Explainer

Common breastfeeding positions

5 ways to make feeding comfortable for you and your baby

Read now
Explainer

5 common breastfeeding problems

Learn about the challenges and how to face them

Read now
Explainer

Breastfeeding when sick

How to safely nourish your child when you feel unwell

Read now

First foods

What you need to know about introducing solids into your child's diet.

Watch: What are the best first foods for my baby? Find out in this Mini Parenting Master Class with nutrition expert Dr. Purnima Menon.

mental health icon - support
Explainer

7 tips for winning over a picky eater

Strategies for keeping everyone happy (and healthy) at mealtime

Read now
Explainer

Feeding your baby: When to start with solid foods

When to introduce your baby to solid foods and why the timing is so important

Go to UNICEF Parenting
Explainer

Feeding your baby: 6–12 months

Your baby needs more energy and nutrients now than at any other time in their life

Go to UNICEF Parenting
Explainer

Feeding your baby: 1–2 years

Your child can now eat the same food as the rest of the family.

Go to UNICEF Parenting
mental health icon - support

Healthy habits for life

Set your child on the path to a lifetime of positive habits.

Explainer

How to raise a healthy eater

6 ways to set your child on the path to a lifetime of positive habits

Read now
Explainer

Easy, affordable and healthy eating tips

Ideas to help your family maintain a nutritious diet

Read now
Explainer

Concerned about your child's weight?

Tips on how to support them with empathy and kindness

Read now
Campaign

Fix My Food

For every child, better food, better futures

Learn more
A woman laughs happily with her baby that she's lifted above her.

More to explore

Page

Child development

With expert guidance and tips, we’re with you for every step of your child’s journey

Learn more
Page

Child care

Expert parenting tips on everything from handling big conversations to getting the most out of play

Learn more
Page

Health and wellbeing

Science-backed information for looking after your family’s health

Learn more
Page

UNICEF parenting

Helping parents give children in South Africa the best start in life.

Learn more