Montvale, NJSprout Foods joined Partnership for a Healthier America as part of a mission to improve the health of our youngest Americans. By excluding added sugars, additives, preservatives and concentrates from baby food, Sprout Foods and Partnership for a Healthier America are trying to influence the baby and toddler palate.

Sprout Foods noted in a press release that studies show 27% of children between 1 and 3 years of age do not eat a single serving of vegetables on a given day. Of those who do, French fries are the most common vegetable consumed.

Over-consumption of sweet foods can put children on a path to a lifetime of unhealthy eating habits and a range of serious health issues, including obesity, diabetes and heart disease, the company says.

"By exposing children to healthier foods, parents have the power to set their children in a healthier direction by developing palates that welcome vegetables, plants and other savory food, while reducing the preference for sweeter ones," said Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN and nutrition advisor to Sprout Foods.

Nancy E. Roman, president and CEO of Partnership for a Healthier America, added, "We're excited to work with Sprout to drive transformational change in the way we feed infants and toddlers."