That's a great question. You can actually eat any wholesome food but you want to avoid foods, vitamins or substances that could harm the baby if consumed in large amounts before you know you are pregnant.

I am actually happy your son did not take to the flavored milk, since adding chocolate and strawberry syrup turns milk into a dessert. For some kids it becomes the only way they’ll drink milk, and then parents get into a struggle about how often to serve it.

I actually don’t routinely recommend supplements unless your child has a specific need. Maybe he’s a vegan or has an iron deficiency. Or, of course, your pediatrician recommends one.

It’s not too late if your child is truly not getting enough fluoride. But you don’t want to go overboard, either.

If your child gets too little fluoride, he won’t get the strengthening of the enamel that can protect against cavities. But if he gets too much, you can do cosmetic damage to the teeth (called fluorosis), so you’ll want to be sure he gets the right amount.

You could use lactose-free milk (such as the brand Lactaid), or your teen could supplement her diet with pills that aid in the digestion of lactose. But this is also where calcium-fortified foods come in really handy.

It’s an expensive way to get nutrition. You can get DHA from other sources. DHA is a fatty acid that is found in breast milk (and marine animals), and it’s linked with brain development and disease prevention. It has been added to formula in the past few years for the purpose of replicating breast milk.

Absolutely. If you like veggies, chances are your kid will like them. Just offer good food, and eat it yourself. That’s all you need to do. I wouldn’t worry about it. If your pediatrician says your child is growing well, you’re okay.

Kids do need some texture in their foods, though, so I would offer foods like apple slices. By the age of 4, your child should experience the texture of cooked vegetables like broccoli. If your child is healthy and sees Mom and Dad eating it, chances are she’ll eat it, too. You do need to offer new foods as many as 10 or 15 times, though, but most parents stop at three.

Yes. Your pediatrician won’t bring it up unless it’s really an issue. So listen carefully. He or she looks at the height and weight chart to get your child’s BMI (body mass index), a measure of fatness. Your pediatrician is looking for a change. For example, if your child is in the 80th percentile for BMI, and suddenly there’s a blip and he’s in the 90th or 95th, something has happened. What’s going on? This is especially important if there are any health issues in the family, such as a history of heart disease.