| If you have ever spent any time in the company of a | | | | quickly develop the taste for refined sugar as they get |
| toddler, then you know they can be very picky about | | | | older. Fresh fruits have the ability to meet that sweet |
| what they eat. Encouraging healthy eating when your | | | | craving without having the harmful effects of large |
| child is young helps foster healthy habits that will last a | | | | amounts of refined sugar. Fruits also provide your little |
| lifetime. Even the pickiest eaters can be tempted with | | | | one with a daily dose of vitamins and fiber as well. |
| healthy food choices -just don't be surprised if they | | | | Look for snacks that provide some calcium, low-fat |
| want the same snack for days in a row! | | | | milk, low-fat yogurt, low fat cheese and calcium |
| The best thing you can do to encourage your toddler | | | | fortified juices. As your child grows from an infant to a |
| to eat a healthy diet is to offer a wide range of | | | | toddler they need lots of calcium to ensure healthy |
| choices. Toddlers tend to be very fickle- and just | | | | bones and growth. Consider offering real ice cream or |
| because they refused a particular food today, doesn't | | | | frozen yogurt in place of sugary popsicles or frozen |
| mean they won't absolutely love it when you offer it | | | | treats, both of these items are rich in calcium, and |
| next week. When your toddler is used to the flavors | | | | have some protein as well. |
| and textures of things like vegetables and naturally | | | | Toddlers also need a good supply of iron to be |
| sweet foods like fruit, they will turn to these items first | | | | healthy, so consider serving snacks or meals rich in |
| when they are hungry, instead of filling up on greasy | | | | iron. You can add broccoli to macaroni and cheese, or |
| chips or candy. | | | | sneak some iron rich meats into pizza sauce. Don't |
| One of the best ways to encourage your toddler to | | | | forget beans, dried fruits and iron-fortified cereals-you |
| eat a healthy diet is to do so yourself. It is hard to | | | | can serve these on their own, or use as ingredients for |
| convince a child of any age to eat apples and grapes | | | | making other foods. |
| if you fill your own diet with fast food and sweets. | | | | In a hurry? Forget fast food--there are some great |
| Children are natural born mimics, and they to be just | | | | prepackaged products that offer completely organic |
| like their parents and the "big kids" in the family. | | | | options for your child. While these may e a little more |
| Toddlers want to eat what they see the rest of the | | | | expensive, they do ensure that your child gets the |
| family enjoying, so take the opportunity to set a great | | | | nutrients they need. You can combine these premade |
| example, and let your toddler watch you enjoy a | | | | items with fresh fruit and milk for a well rounded but |
| healthy variety of snacks. | | | | quickly made meal. |
| When you are choosing snacks for your toddler, try to | | | | By planning ahead and knowing what nutrients your |
| avoid anything containing refined sugar. Stick to things | | | | child needs most, you can be sure that your toddler is |
| like applesauce, yogurts, and diced fresh fruits. Babies | | | | eating a well rounded, healthy diet. |
| are not born with a need for sugary snacks, but can | | | | |