| When we understand a child's developmental needs | | | | needs. Add a bedtime snack if your dinner time is early |
| and how they impact a child's eating habits we can put | | | | and your child is hungry before bed.o Snacks are for |
| in place new values about food and eating. There are | | | | healthy foods, not just cookies. Remember the fruits |
| several strategies parents can put in place to build | | | | and veggies. Include foods from 2 food groups at |
| healthy eating habits for their children. | | | | snack time. The afternoon snack is a good time to |
| Avoid high amounts of sugar.o Sweet is the first taste | | | | offer a salad.o Plan your weekly and monthly menus |
| we acquire as babies and the last taste to go when | | | | so your child's favored foods are spaced evenly |
| we are elderly.o Do NOT give your child soda pop, | | | | among less favored meals. If your child loves chicken |
| punch, fruit drinks/beverages, or candy.o Strictly limit | | | | nuggets, limit those servings to 1 - 3 times a week. |
| cookies, cakes, etc to 1-3 times a week. If your child is | | | | Avoid Bribery or Guilt.o Learn to respect your child's |
| very picky, cut out these treats as well.o Fruit juices | | | | food preferences and feelings of being full.o If your |
| are high in sugar and need to be limited. WIC | | | | child will not eat, avoid telling her to eat her dinner so |
| recommends 1 serving of juice a day. A serving for a 1 | | | | she can have dessert. You are reinforcing the attitude |
| to 5 year old is ½ a cup or 4 oz. For a 6 to 12 | | | | that the dinner food is yucky. You are also teaching |
| year old is ¾ cup or 6 oz. Children's sipper cups | | | | your child to eat past full.o If your child doesn't eat a |
| hold 6 - 12 oz so watch portion sizes. | | | | meal, she will usually eat more at the next meal. |
| Adopt the attitude of "I don't run a diner".o It is very | | | | Don't Feed Your Child Like a Lumberjacko Children's |
| tempting to cook everybody's favorite food at | | | | tummies are smaller than an adult.o In our society, we |
| mealtime so you know the picky eaters will actually | | | | have become used to huge portions. As an example, |
| eat. You need to stick to your menu and your meal | | | | a protein serving should be about the size of the palm |
| and snack times.o Children need to be exposed to a | | | | of your hand. A child's protein serving is the size of |
| variety of foods so they have an opportunity to try | | | | their palm, not their parent's!o When introducing a new |
| them. We need so many different nutrients and trace | | | | food or one they don't like, just put a quarter size on |
| minerals in our diets that only a wide selection of food | | | | their plate. They don't have to touch it or taste it; they |
| can provide.o If you have planned a meal you know | | | | just need to say "Hello". |
| your child won't like, make sure you offer him a | | | | Pediatricians recommend that parents look at their |
| substantial snack with protein he usually will eat a few | | | | child's food intake over a long period of time. Is their |
| hours before. | | | | child's diet balanced over a month's time? Or perhaps |
| Plan for Regular Meals and Snacks.o Young children | | | | over the span of a year, has the child eating a wide |
| need to eat every 2-3 hours. Adults also do better | | | | variety of foods? If she is eating a balanced diet over |
| with controlling their food intake if they eat several | | | | time and your pediatrician exam says she is healthy, |
| small meals a day rather than a few large meals.o | | | | stop worrying. Keep teaching your child healthy |
| Plan 3 meals with 2 snacks in between spaced 2-4 | | | | attitudes and habits about food and she will grow up to |
| hours apart, depending on your & your child's | | | | be a healthy adult. |