Infant Nutrition: Evidence & Clinical Controversies | Part 1 Bridging Research and Practice in Pediatric Nutrition

Research talk: Nutritional recommendations for healthy infants
Dr. Maguire will provide an overview of new and emerging research on nutrition recommendations for healthy infants

Jonathon Maguire, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Professor of Paediatrics and Nutritional Sciences, Lawson Family Chair in Patient Engagement in Child Nutrition, University of Toronto. Department of Pediatrics, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto

Professor Maguire holds the Lawson Chair in Patient Engagement in Child Nutrition at U of T, through which he conducts patient-oriented research — an approach in which families and children provide input throughout the research process, especially on specific questions they want answered and which results they are most likely to use in their day-to-day lives.

Prof. Maguire is a staff pediatrician in the Department of Pediatrics at St. Michael’s Hospital, with a pediatric hospitalist and outpatient clinical practice. His research focus is clinical trials involving nutrition and development in young children, as well as the creation of tools to facilitate evidence informed child health practice. He also co-leads TARGet Kids!, the largest primary care research network for children in Canada.

Prof. Maguire has received several awards including the Samuel J. Fomon Young Physician Award from the American Society of Nutrition, the Canadian Paediatric Society Young Investigator Award, a Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator Award,  an Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation Early Researcher Award and holds a CIHR/SPOR Chair in Innovative Clinical Trials.

Complementary Feeding & Baby Led Weaning
This presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of introducing solid foods to infants, emphasizing the importance of timing, developmental readiness, and nutritional needs. It recommends starting solids around 6 months, with flexibility based on individual readiness, and prioritizing iron-rich foods like meats and fortified cereals. The presentation will explore complementary feeding practices, early allergen exposure, and the benefits of responsive feeding, while cautioning against non-responsive behaviors such as pressure or emotional feeding. It also highlights developmental milestones, the role of maternal mental health, and the impact of feeding methods like baby-led weaning. Practical guidance is offered on food types, textures, feeding schedules, and avoiding added sugars, salt, and screens during meals to support healthy growth and development.

Meta van den Heuvel, MD, PhD
Hospital for Sick Children

Dr. Meta van den Heuvel is a Staff Pediatrician at The Hospital for Sick Children and Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, whose work bridges clinical care, research, and advocacy in child nutrition and development. Her research program centers on promoting early childhood growth and development within a health equity framework, with a particular focus on the intersection of nutrition, maternal mental health, and feeding practices. Internationally recognized for her contributions to understanding the developmental outcomes of children with severe malnutrition, Dr. van den Heuvel has led and collaborated on multiple studies across Canada, Malawi, and Uganda. She is also a Lawson Distinguished Fellow in Child Growth, Development and Health Equity, and actively leads initiatives addressing food insecurity and material hardship in pediatric hospital settings. Through her clinical work in a multidisciplinary feeding clinic she continues to shape best practices in pediatric nutrition and child development.

Presentation title coming soon

Iva Hojsak, MD, PhD
Children’s Hospital Zagreb

Bio coming soon