Helping Your Child Eat Healthy Foods

Research has shown that poor nutrition during early childhood years has an effect not only on physical growth but also on the mental functioning of the child. Therefore, it is of vital importance that your child not only receives the proper amount of food but the right kinds of food as well.

It is best for children to be offered three meals a day at reasonably scheduled intervals. Breakfast is especially important for children before going to school. If your child has been playing hard before lunch or dinner a brief period of quiet activity before the meal will improve an appetite. Some children eat less and are finished sooner than others at the table. Other kids need more time. I suggest that children be allowed to leave or stay as long as necessary.

Children who eat well at mealtime also can be offered healthy snacks. These could include:

Drinks:

1. Natural fruit juices including orange, pineapple, grapefruit, and grape juice.
2. Skim milk, low fat regular or frozen yogurt.

Healthy Snacks:

1. Mini-pizzas, starting with toasted whole wheat English muffing and adding pizza sauce and melted low-fat mozzarella cheese.
2. Bran muffins with raisins.
3. Rice cake, plain or with peanut butter.

Everyone - young and old - needs properly prepared, nourishing food for health and energy. The way we look and feel is influenced by the foods we eat. The daily food guide below can help you choose the kinds and amounts of food necessary for your families good health. You will want to choose the foods your family likes from each of the four food groups.

The four basic food groups in the food guide works as a team to give us the food we need for good health. Choose foods from these four groups everyday!

The meals and snacks below are made up of food from the four food groups recommended in the daily food guide:

Breakfast - fruit or juice (orange, grapefruit or tomato). Cereal or whole wheat or enriched bread with margarine or butter milk.

Lunch - Egg, bread with margarine or butter, carrot sticks or Cole slaw, fruit, milk.

Dinner - Hamburger, mashed potatoes, green vegetables, bead and margarine or butter pudding, milk for children.