How to Help Your Child to Start Eating Right

Help your child develop healthy eating habits to prevent problems such as heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and obesity later in life. These guidelines follow the recommendations of the U.S. Department of Education.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Apples Slices
• Breads
• Cheeses
• Crackers
• Desserts
• Eggs
• Fruits
• Lean Meats
• Milk
• Peanut Butter
• Raisins
• Raw Carrots
• Rice
• Shredded Lettuce
• Sodas
• Vegetables
• Yogurt
• Fruits
• Vegetables

1. Try to introduce new foods to your child while still in preschool, when he or she will be more open to new things.

2. Offer your child a variety of nutritious choices with every meal.

3. Give your child some freedom in choosing what and how much to eat from what you offer.

4. Be creative. If you child doesn't like vegetables, finely grate raw carrots, mix with peanut butter, and spread on crackers, bread or apple slices.

5. Make edible art. Use rice as clouds, shredded lettuce for grass, raisins for rocks.

6. Make sure your child's breakfast includes carbohydrates and simple sugars such as breads, fruits and vegetables, proteins such as lean meat or an egg, a calcium-rich dairy product such as cheese, yogurt or milk, and some fat. When taken together, these foods stay in the stomach long enough to provide the energy your child needs to start the day.

7. Allow your child the occasional "junk food" such as sugary desserts or soda, but remind him or her that these are no substitute for healthful foods.

8. Make eating a fun learning experience. Explore a variety of foods, including those of other cultures, and determine how these can fit into a healthy diet.

9. Make sure that your child's school cafeteria offers balanced meals.

10. Act as an example by developing a positive attitude about healthy foods.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have any questions or concerns, contact a physician or other healthcare professional before engaging in any activity related to health and diet. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

[patricecampbell]

on 11/22/2008 Not only a great article, but I've learned from the comments, also. My grandchildren are such picky eaters that my daughter in law freezes single servings of leftovers because there are so few things all three of the kids will actually eat. This way, they all have a nutritious meal no matter what the planned menu is.

on 8/27/2006 Stay away from the $3.99 kid's meal. Most kid's meals are made up of foods that are high in saturated fat. If your default kid's meal choice is the chicken fingers and fries, this applies to you. Look through the rest of the menu, find a dish that is appropriately balanced in proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. As an example, an adult size dish of grilled chicken, steamed or grilled vegetables, and a baked potato or wheat bread is a great meal to split between two children. Order this meal with a glass of milk, not a sugar filled drink.

Your kids might even think it's cool that they get to order from the adult menu.

on 4/3/2006 When eating out, I create a plan. I look over the menu and choose what items I want my children to choose from and only list those choices. I order a vegetable for an appetizer (steamed broccoli or broccoli and cheese). They are more likely to eat their vegetables when there are no other food options on the table and they are hungry. I also split the meal. This way they will eat only half a portion of the greasy fries but still feel as though they did have some treat.

on 11/22/2005 Add shredded light cheese (mild chedder), croutons and low fat, light ranch dressing..let them add the salt and pepper to taste. (hint: clog the salt & pepper shaker so a tiny portion comes out)