Healthy Eating Tips For Young Children

It isn't always easy to get young children to eat healthfully and to try new foods. Attractive processed foods abound in the grocery stores and are endlessly advertised on television, making it difficult to encourage good food choices that can help prevent many health problems such as diabetes and obesity. Follow these tips if you don't know how to get your fussy 2 to 6 year-old kids to eat what's good for them.

Plan your food offerings

• For breakfast, lunch and dinner, make sure to offer foods from at least three of the five major food groups (grains, fruits, vegetables, milk and meat).
• Make sure to offer snacks in between meals with foods from two or more of the food groups, but not too close to mealtime.

Fun and creativity are crucial

• Make meal or snack preparation a fun time to connect with your young children by including them in the decision-making as much as possible. Ask them what they feel like eating and what would be a healthful choice.
• Invent new snacks or sandwiches using healthful ingredients you give them. Discuss what food groups are included and the nutrients they provide their growing bodies.
• Talk about why the snack or meal tastes good. Use words such as juicy, crunchy, colorful, sweet, smooth and chewy.

Patience is a virtue

• Accept that you may need to offer a new food to your 2 to 6 year-old children more than once before they try it. Don't force them to eat it. Just enjoy it yourself and keep offering it when you make it. They may eventually come around to trying it because it is so familiar.
• This one is difficult: don't make eating a stressful event! If your kids are hungry, they will usually eat at least one or two of the foods that are on their plate. However, if they refuse to eat anything when you offer them food, simply put it away and offer it again later when they are perhaps more hungry.

Sweet treats have a place in a healthful diet

• Sugary desserts and treats are good to include in your kids' diet once in awhile, so that they understand that they have their place in a healthful lifestyle. Deprivation is not a good message to send, as it can have negative effects later on, such as binge eating.
• Young children need to learn that food can be healthy and fun to eat. For example, occasionally fruit can be served in a way that is more appealing by adding yogurt or a bit of chocolate sauce or whipped cream. Melon balls are very popular, as are happy faces made out of fruit.

Actions speak louder than words

• Set a good example by eating a variety of healthful foods from all the five food groups yourself.
• Eat meals and snacks with your children as much as possible. This shows them that eating can be an enjoyable time to connect with others.
• Show enthusiasm for what you're eating - it's contagious!

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