5 Healthy-Eating Tips From Babies (Don't Worry, the Baby Food Diet Is NOT on This List)

OK, no—this is a goopy mess (it's also my baby from a few years ago...who has since gotten better about knowing where, exactly, spaghetti is supposed to go!). But what babies lack in hand-to-mouth control, they make up for with healthy-eating habits. In fact, some of them can even be lessons for us bigger people!

According to Keri Glassman, R.D., founder and president of Nutritious Life, told Q by Equinox: "Young children don't experience stress-driven or emotional eating, or the influences of friends and media....They also don't know what a craving is, and they certainly can't act on them without the help of someone else!" Here's what babies do that she says we should consider too:

They eat only when they're hungry. We don't always follow that ourselves—we're busy, we're stressed, we're bored—and that can lead to overeating. Babies eat when they're hungry and stop when they're full.

They don't skip meals. Not unless they're sick, sleeping, or already full, anyway. But Glassman says that when adults skip meals, it "almost always guarantees they will overeat and slow their metabolism."

They eat snacks. Nutritious snacks too, like fresh fruit, baby-friendly veggies, and whole grains. Glassman says that eating every few hours helps keep your blood sugar levels stabilized and prevents eating too much at the next meal.

They're picky about what they eat. And how! Babies know what they like and won't waste time eating something that's just meh. Lesson: When you like what you're eating, you'll likely enjoy it and feel more satisfied overall.

They eat slowly. They're still figuring out how to get that noodle into their mouths and chew it. Glassman says that chewing foods slowly helps increase the enzymes in your mouth, helping aid in better digestion—plus, it keeps you from eating mindlessly.

Thanks for the tips, babies! What do you think of the list?

Also See : Glamour.com