Tips for Feeding Toddlers & Preschoolers

But sometimes, teaching young ones to eat right is a challenge. These tips can help:

• Sit down with your child at meal and snack times and be a positive role model for healthy eating.
  
  
• At mealtime, serve at least one MyPyramid food that you know your little one loves. That way, if your child is having a "no" kind of day and refuses to eat what you prepared, you can be reasonably sure that he or she will eat at least one nutritious food.
  
  
• Let your child decide how much to eat. Toddlers and preschoolers may not eat as much as they did when they were younger. Their growth rate has slowed down so they may need fewer calories. And their day is filled with so many other fun things, eating may not be a priority. Some parents forget that young children eat smaller portions than their older brothers and sisters. Click here for more tips on "right sizing" food portions for young children.
  
  
• Try, try again... when you're introducing new foods. Some children have to see a new food up to 10 times before they feel brave enough to try it. Be sure they see you enjoying the food, since many kids want to be like their parents.
  
  
• Pack a picnic if you're going to be on the go at mealtime. Include foods from at least four of the MyPyramid food groups. For example, pick your favorite bread (Grain Group), sandwiches filled with meat (Meat & Beans Group) or cheese (Milk Group), carrot sticks - cook until soft; cut into strips; then chill (Vegetable Group), and orange sections or banana slices (Fruit Group).
  
  
• Don't coax or beg your child to eat. Eating (or not eating) is one of the few things that young kids can control. The more you push, the more your child may push back by refusing to eat. Simply offer foods at meals and snack times.
  
  
• Decide what to serve, and stick with your decision, even if your child begs for something else. If you start making other foods on demand, your child might expect you to be a short order cook at every meal.
  
  
• Create a safe eating environment to minimize chances of choking. Make sure your child sits while eating and eats only when an adult is present. Cut foods into small, bite-size pieces before serving. See Kraft's safety tips.

Click here for tips on feeding ‘tweens and teens.