Help your child form healthful eating habits by starting early. It is one of the most important things you can do as a parent. These habits can make big difference in your child's health over a lifetime.
You set an example by the foods you have on hand and by the foods you eat. The foods you bring home from the grocery store are the kinds of foods your child will eat. When you choose a variety of tasty, nutritious foods, like orange slices, vegetable sticks, and some crackers, your child will have the chance to learn to enjoy them. When you have foods like snack chips, candy, cakes, soft drinks, sweetened cereals and sugary cookies on hand, your children will learn to eat these kinds of foods. Follow the Food Guide Pyramid for ideas about the variety of foods that you and your child can try.
The amount of food a child needs can vary. For children who are 1 to 3 years old, a good rule of thumb is to use one tablespoon as a serving for every year of age. For example, a serving of vegetable for a 2 year-old would be 2 tablespoons of squash; a serving of grain would be 2 tablespoons of rice.
Remember that a child's stomach is small and can't hold much food. So your child may become hungry between meals. You can plan snacks to ease their hunger and add to good nutrition. Offer finger foods like unsweetened cereals, toast, soft fruit slices or vegetable strips.
To find out more about feeding young children, go to the file: Feeding Young Children - II.
To find out more about snacks for families, go to the file: Snacks.
If you have other questions about feeding your children, go to "Ask the Nutritionist."
Go Home to NIBBLE Directory || Go Back to Healthy Food Choices for You & Your Family