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(09/22/26) BATON ROUGE, La. — From a mother’s diet during pregnancy to the nutritional needs of older adults, healthy eating can look a little different at every stage of life. Lindsay Barleycorn, an instructor in the LSU School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, said understanding those needs can help families make healthier choices at every stage of life.
She spoke with nutrition educators with the LSU AgCenter’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program about helping Louisiana families build habits that improve health outcomes across generations.
The LSU AgCenter provides science-based guidance tailored to every stage of life, from pregnancy and infancy through older adulthood. The tips Barleycorn gave the educators are ones families can follow to help with long-term health.
Barleycorn said the cycle starts with pregnancy.
“The health of pregnant people ultimately leads to the health of newborns,” she said. “And then the health of newborns is going to impact the health of our population.”
Lindsay Barleycorn, an instructor in the LSU School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, discusses the four core nutrition principles that should guide a healthful diet.
She said pregnant women need nutrient-dense foods, rather than simply “eating for two.” Pregnant women need about 300 extra calories a day, and important nutrients include folate, iron, choline and omega-3 fatty acids. She stressed that adequate maternal nutrition reduces risks such as low birth weight, preterm birth and neural tube defects.
During breastfeeding and infancy, nutritional needs shift. Daily caloric needs for the mother go up an additional 500 calories, and breast milk composition changes based on an infant’s needs and developmental stage.
Barleycorn said, “Fed is best,” recognizing that breastfeeding and formula feeding can both support healthy infants.
Early childhood is a critical period for developing healthy eating behaviors. Parents and caregivers should model healthy eating and repeatedly expose children to new foods before giving up on them.
“It takes multiple passes for a kid to actually accept the food,” she said.
Barleycorn recommended letting children be part of the meal planning and preparation process.
“If they feel like they’re part of the process, it’s going to go over a lot easier.”
As a child moves into adolescence, influences such as peers, social media and screen time can affect the foods they choose.
“One of the big things with this age group is going to be screen time,” she said. “They’re sitting in front of that iPad. They’re also snacking and probably not snacking on things that are really nutrient dense.”
She said bone mass and muscle mass are increasing during this stage. She stressed the need for calcium and regular meals, especially breakfast, which some adolescents tend to skip.
As adolescents move into adulthood, the need to maintain energy balance is important. She said nutrition needs depend in part on energy output and whether caloric intake and expenditures are in balance to maintain a healthy weight.
Barleycorn said fiber intake is also vital. She said many Americans do not consume adequate fiber, which can contribute to health issues.
With older adults, challenges such as reduced appetite, changes in taste and smell and difficulties with chewing and swallowing may need to be addressed.
Throughout life, food fuels us and helps us grow and thrive.
Barleycorn encouraged the nutrition educators she was speaking with to promote colorful, nutrient dense foods.
While nutritional needs may change throughout life, Barleycorn said the fundamentals remain the same — eat a varied diet rich in fruits and vegetables, understand age-appropriate portion sizes and practice safe food handling.
