Encouraging Healthy Eating Habits in Toddlers
Introducing Toddlers to Healthy Food
Toddlerhood may be filled with plenty of “no’s” from toddlers learning to assert their individuality but it is also a wonderful time to introduce a wide variety of healthy foods to encourage a healthy diet as toddlers grow. Teaching toddlers to enjoy a healthy diet early on will set a foundation for healthy eating that can last a lifetime and provide numerous health benefits for the entire family.
Serve Toddlers a Variety of Healthy Foods
Parents often prevent their toddler from having the experience of trying new healthy food options because they assume that their toddler will not like the food choice or they themselves do not like it. Being served a variety of healthy foods every day will help toddlers learn to develop a willingness to try new foods and develop a taste for a wide range of healthy food options.
Small meals and frequent snacks are ideal for a toddler’s small stomach and provide plenty of opportunities for parents and caregivers to serve a variety of healthy foods. Fruits and vegetables, both raw and cooked, are nutritious snacks and side dishes that are simple to prepare and provide toddlers with a variety of nutrients. Toddlers need the opportunity to try a variety of healthy foods to discover what they enjoy and allow them to create a foundation for future healthy eating habits.
Serve New Food Choices With Old Favorites
New foods often need to be introduced several times before a toddler is willing to try them. Parents can introduce new food options by serving them together with several of their toddler’s favorite foods. A child who has never eaten fish before may be more likely to try it if it is prepared in a similar way to a favorite chicken dish and served with favorite side dishes.
Parents should not be discouraged if their toddler does not try a new food choice the first time it is served. Toddlers who reject a new food the first time it is served (or the second and third), may surprise parents by trying it willingly at another meal. It takes toddlers some time to get used to the idea of a new food item so even though he may not be eating it at the meal, each time the healthy food choice is served the toddler is getting used to the look, the smell, and the feel of the food, which will help prepare him to try it at another meal.
Present Healthy Food Options as a Treat
Too often, parents discourage their toddler from eating healthy foods without meaning to. Who hasn’t heard a parent say, “Eat one more bite of vegetables and you can have dessert.”? To a toddler, that is like saying “Force yourself to eat just one more bit of that yucky stuff and then I’ll give you the good food”.
Parents can make healthy foods more appealing to toddlers by demonstrating healthy eating habits themselves and by using healthy food as reward. Many parents find that an effective way to encourage their toddlers to want to eat healthy food is to just start eating the food without offering any to the toddler. Toddlers often think that their parents are sneaking a treat for themselves when they see this and many times will beg to have some for themselves. Healthy treats such as cold watermelon on a hot day, homemade juice popsicles, and soybeans still in the pod make wonderful snacks and are exciting for toddlers.
A toddler’s diet does not need to be limited to hot dogs and macaroni and cheese. Parents don’t need to be afraid to serve toddlers food because they don’t think they will like it. Toddlers learn to enjoy whatever it is they are eating on a daily basis. Eating a diet filled with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and a variety of whole grains will provide toddlers with excellent nutrition and health benefits and make him a more adventurous eater who is willing to try new foods.
Toddler Nutrition
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