Top Tips for Healthy Eating

Preschoolers like to do the things that others around them do. What they eat is no exception. Setting a good example when it comes to eating and nutrition is the number one way you can help your preschooler to eat healthy. And it's not hard - here are simple things you can do to establish healthy eating habits for life.

Stock up on the good stuff. Fill your cabinets with healthy foods and leave the special treats for special occasions. A persistent preschooler who knows there are chips and candy in the cupboard can quickly wear you down to get the goods.

Talk about healthy foods as you enjoy them. When you’re eating that first peach of the season, tell your preschooler how juicy and sweet it is. Comment on how delicious fresh tomato sauce can be. But don’t lay it on too thick, be artificial, or fall into a lecture of "you don't know what you're missing.". Your preschooler will be quick to recognize the insincerity.

Let your preschooler eat what you eat. Pass on the packaged foods and snacks marketed to kids. There is no doubt that young children are drawn to these foods - they have flashy packages with cartoon characters and may have extra salt and sugar – but remember that preschoolers don’t need special food. Food time can be fun because of what goes on at the dinner table with family, even if the chicken nuggets aren’t shaped like dinosaurs.

Healthy eating on the go is possible. Have containers of nuts, fruit, and assorted veggies and other nutrient-dense snacks ready for the park. Or take advantage of your preschooler's hungriest times and make a meal out of snack time by packing a healthy sandwich.

Plan meals and snacks and reduce mindless eating. Have a “no eating in front of the TV” rule and a "no eating in the car" rule (at least for short trips). As often as possible, meals and snacks should be occasions where enjoying the food is the main activity.

Be flexible. By following these tips on most days, you'll feel good about those times when fun and yummy is more important than nutrition.

by Kati Chevaux

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