Feeding Your Pre-Schooler: Good Food Habits Start Early. Make Mealtime Fun, Healthy, and Safe
As parents or caretakers we should provide our kids with wholesome, appealing meals and snacks that meet nutritional needs and make eating a pleasant, social experience.
Today's diet with fast foods and junk food has resulted in an alarming increase in obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in children.
Foods high in sugar, fat, and salt have replaced healthy meals.
Basic nutritional needs of children are similar to the nutritional needs of other family members. Amounts differ because of age. Offer your child a variety of foods from the basic food groups:
- Breads, cereal, rice, and pasta - buy brown whole grain products, unsweetened (non-sugary) kid's cereal.
- Vegetables - fresh, frozen, canned
- Fruits - in season when available, 100% juices
- Milk, yogurt, cheese - whole milk until age two
- Meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs - limit luncheon meat
Read nutritional labels - limit salt, fat, and sugar.
Some Ways To Make Mealtime Fun:
- Have child-size table, chair, dishes, and tableware. Children should be comfortable and safely seated.
- Let kids help with food preparation and cleanup
- Serve small child-sized portions. Let the child ask for seconds
- Allow time - don't rush them
- Don't make meal time a power struggle. If a child doesn't want to eat, you can give him a nutritious snack later.
- Kid's stomachs are small - serve small snacks in between meals
- Serve a variety of foods with old favorites and new foods.
- Make sure foods are attractive and have "eye-appeal".
- Set a good example. Kids sense adult attitudes towards food.
- Encourage appropriate manners.
Feeding Your Pre-Schooler: Good Food Habits Start Early. Make Mealtime Fun, Healthy, and Safe
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