I spend my days focusing on the organ that defines us: the human brain. As a neurologist, I diagnose everything from chronic headaches to complex neurodegenerative diseases. But some of the most important work I do to protect my brain is happening in my family’s kitchen while my wife and I are raising our children.
Infancy and early childhood are critical periods of neuroplasticity and growth, and what we feed our children can have a direct impact on their brain health in the long term.
The best foods for your brain are universal. Fruits, vegetables, and high-fiber options. My philosophy is not restrictive, and my children eat a diverse diet like most of their friends. Still, especially in early childhood, I stuck to three important rules:
1. Do not give honey until 12 months old
Honey, although rare, can be fatal to infants. This is because honey, even in small amounts and in cooked items, contains Clostridium botulinum spores.
The infant’s gastrointestinal tract is not mature or diverse enough to compete with these spores and grow into active bacteria that germinate and produce botulinum neurotoxin. This can cause infant botulism, a rare but very serious food poisoning.
The toxins attack the nervous system and cause muscle weakness. Babies may exhibit symptoms such as weak crying, decreased sucking reflex, and decreased muscle tone. In severe cases, it can cause paralysis of respiratory muscles, leading to respiratory failure and even death.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics stress that infants “should not be given foods containing raw or heated honey.”
2. Early exposure to common allergens
For many years, parents in many parts of the world have been advised to delay exposing their children to common allergens such as peanuts and eggs. We now know that this advice was wrong. Delaying introduction may actually increase the risk of developing a severe food allergy.
The guidance for parents has been developed following groundbreaking research showing that early introduction and continued peanut intake significantly reduces the risk of peanut allergy in high-risk infants by up to 86%. Additional research supports the early introduction of other common allergens, such as cooked eggs, and has shown that this can help prevent the development of allergies.
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Behavioral and mood changes such as irritability and hyperactivity may be observed in children with food allergies. These effects may be due to discomfort and pain due to systemic immune responses rather than direct nerve damage, but may influence neurological and behavioral outcomes.
Once the kids were ready to eat solid foods (usually around 4-6 months, depending on risk factors), my wife and I introduced age-appropriate hyperallergenic foods like peanuts and boiled eggs. I continued to rotate it regularly to build a healthy immune system and brain.
3. Sweet drinks are prohibited in early childhood.
I avoid all types of liquid calories and non-nutritive sweeteners (which add flavor but have little or no nutritional value) for children under 1 year of age. This means no juices, sugary drinks (such as sodas, fruit drinks, or sweetened waters), or artificially sweetened drinks (such as diet soda).
Excess sugar can cause metabolic stress and trigger reward pathways similar to addictive substances. And it has been linked to learning and memory impairments.
Even small amounts of sugar-sweetened drinks in early childhood are associated with an increased risk of obesity later in life. Additionally, early exposure to sweet flavors can strengthen a lifelong preference for sweet foods, influencing emotional regulation and behavior for years to come.
Although fruit juice may seem healthy, it is a poor substitute for actual fruit. No matter how natural or organic it is, it strips out the beneficial fiber that slows sugar absorption. They can give children excess calories, not make them feel full, and displace nutrient-dense foods, all of which can contribute to poor eating patterns.
Artificial sweeteners lack long-term safety data for children, especially infants. Although further research is needed, there are concerns that they may alter the gut microbiome, disrupt blood sugar regulation, and affect sweet taste perception. Artificially sweetened drinks can also make your child feel full, which can prevent them from eating nutritious foods.
Breast milk was the main source of nutrition for my children until they were one year old. After about 6 months, a small amount of water was introduced along with supplementary food. Since then, they mainly drink water and milk.
However, although we keep sugary drinks to a minimum, my wife and I believe that it is more important to teach our children how to make good choices than to impose strict restrictions as they grow.
As always, you should consult a medical professional regarding your child’s diet.
Baibing Chen is a double board certified neurologist and epileptologist at Henry Ford Health. Find him on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
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