Food and Feeding Basics
Helpful Hints From the Experts
Getting kids to eat healthy can sometimes be tricky business. If you’re just starting to introduce better nutrition, you might be facing the challenge of a picky eater. The key to a successful transition is being prepared.
Feeding Tips From the Experts
Not sure how to get your kid started on the road to better nutrition? Here are a few expert-approved tips to get you going.
- Make mealtimes enjoyable by creating a positive, calm environment. Adopt a neutral attitude and avoid excess praise and criticism.1
- Encourage your kids to eat new foods by offering small portions of new food along with their favorite foods. Don’t force them to eat all of the new food, but encourage them to take small tastes. Don’t give up! Studies show that kids need to be exposed to a new food 15 times or more before accepting it.2-4
- For kids who eat very little or have no appetite, try feeding them at specific intervals and avoid snacks to encourage appetite. Mealtimes should be three to four hours apart.1
- If your child has difficulty swallowing, talk to your health care professional about evaluating the cause.
- Always offer liquids at each mealtime to keep your kid hydrated.5
- Make sure to include fiber-containing grains, fruits, and vegetables in your child’s diet and ensure good fluid intake to help avoid constipation and diarrhea.5
The Dos and Don’ts of Food and Eating
Helping your kids gradually become responsible for their own eating habits is just as important as making sure they get enough nutrition when they’re young. When kids practice good nutrition throughout childhood, they are much more likely to adopt the habit for life.
Use these dos and don’ts to lead your kids to healthier eating habits.
- Do set a good example for your kids to follow. Share mealtimes and eat the same healthy foods.
- Don’t add unnecessary sugar to drinks and foods.
- Do discourage snacking on sweets and fatty foods. Keep plenty of healthy snacks around — like cut-up pieces of fruits and veggies, lowfat cheese, and yogurt.
- Don’t accustom your kids to extra salt by adding it to food or keeping the shaker on the table.
- Do allow your kids to follow their natural appetites when deciding how much to eat at mealtimes.
- Don’t use food as a bribe.
- Do encourage your kids to enjoy fruits and veggies by exposing them to a wide variety from an early age.
- Don’t give skim or 1% milk to children younger than 2 unless your doctor prescribes it. At age 2, switch your kids from whole milk to 2% milk.
- Do ask your kids to help prepare meals.