Are you looking for some tips on how to get your toddler or preschooler to eat healthy foods? If so, check out this article to learn from other mommies who share their tips and tricks.
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Best Healthy Eating Tips for Toddlers & Preschoolers from other mommies 🙂
- Having our toddlers and preschoolers eat healthier is a parent’s dream. We do our best to work very hard on making sure they get their nutrient. Are you looking for some tips on how to help your precious love eat healthy foods? Below are 11 healthy eating tips for toddlers and preschoolers from a few mommies!
- Involve them with the shopping and/or cooking process. They seem to be more interested in eating healthy food when you include them in the process. -Ashley Cahoe
- Introducing new foods one at a time, make it fun, and make it routine. -Simona Gordan
- I think the easiest way to get them to eat healthier is by eating healthy meals and snacks yourself! I find that if they see you practicing healthy eating behaviors and if you make it look normal and encouraging, they will follow your lead! -Mildrine Cossier
- The variety and different colors. I like them to eat what I eat. I see that they copy everything that I do so I eat along with them so they can learn of the healthy choices that I make. -Linda Disla
- Encourage that they try everything! Season normally bland foods well, and get creative. A child’s relationship with food can be fun, uplifting, and exciting. Don’t get discouraged if they don’t like a certain food or many foods for that matter. Introduce again a couple of months later! Also, let them choose what they want to eat. Just like us, they like to choose what they’re craving for, too! -Tracy Pimentel
- Provide food from all important food groups, limit sugar, provide healthy snacks, fruits, and vegetables. -Sade Johnson
- Put healthy ingredients into a smoothie or popsicle. -Aquisha Harris
- Choose their vegetables and fruit by color. Let them pick the color of the day, then select a corresponding veggie and or fruit for them to eat. It’s fun, educational and lets them feel in charge while you help them stay healthy. -Chamor Thomas
- Offer puréed fruits and vegetables with a snack. -Nicole Gross
- The thing that I’ve found helpful is giving them what they like but in a healthier form. For example, my kids love waffles and pasta. I buy gluten-free waffles and they love it. I replaced the unhealthy pasta with Kamut or spelt pasta. They don’t even know that they are eating healthy. -Shaney G
- Introduce them to as many veggies as possible before fruits. Introduce fruits here and there. It will help them appreciate veggies early on and just as much as fruits. Fruit should be a dessert almost. -Teresa Satchell
How come my child(ren) does not like healthy foods?
- Great question! Some parents may think, if we introduce them to unhealthy foods, they began to rely on it.
- Others might say, processed and sweet foods are made to be addicting, which makes children want appealing unhealthy foods, such as lollipops, chips, and some juices.
- Personally, I am a candidate of giving my daughter sweets. As a first-time parent, before practicing peaceful parenting, I rewarded my firstborn with chocolate. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying it’s not okay to give your precious love(s) candy but, know that when you do that, you are conditioning their minds to like or love unhealthy foods.
- Once she was introduced to that, she began to ask for it every day. I even noticed that she would change her behavior with certain things so she could be rewarded with chocolate.
- I highly recommend holding off on the sweets as long as you can.
- If you are who likes to read and looking for alternatives, check this book out. It has a lot of great information and ideas.
Remember to…
- Model healthy eating behaviors for your love
- Remember our child(ren) only eat what is brought in the house. If we bring in unhealthy junk/fast foods, guess what your love will want to eat?
- Introduce your child(ren)to fruits instead of candy
- Mangoes, strawberries, grapes, and other colorful fruits are great candy alternatives.
- Sometimes, children don’t like to eat fruits, if that’s the case – smoothies will become your best friend
- Have your love help you make the smoothie by choosing the fruits. Shhhh… Don’t say a word, but this is a great time to sneak in some greens for the children who are not veggie fans.
- This amazing product is a saving grace for us! It’s the perfect size to make smoothies as well as fruits and veggie Popsicle!
- Introduce veggies at a young age
- You may or may not know vegetables don’t have a strong relationship with some children.
- Doing your best to introduce veggies at a young age will benefit you in so many ways. For example, my 1-year-old son LOVES veggies because my husband and I are consistent with giving him veggies.
- On the other hand, my 5-year-old daughter is not a huge fan, but she loves fruits and smoothies. She doesn’t know this but we always add spinach and avocado to her daily smoothies.
- Be consistent and offer vegetables and fruits more than once
- Your love will reject new foods due to their ever-changing taste buds, the look of the food, or the smell of it.
- This is your time to be as patient as possible.
- Do your best to introduce new foods more than once and try to spread them out. For example, if you offer bell peppers on a Saturday and they reject, try to offer it for three more days.
- If they continue to reject, offer it again in a couple of weeks.
The Last Thing You Need to Know about toddlers and preschoolers eating healthy
- I know we are all busy parents and know how much of a power struggle it is to get our children to try need foods.
- Remember, if your ultimate goal is to have your love eat healthier…
- Be patient, consistent, understanding, and flexible!
- Do you have any tips on getting toddlers and preschoolers to eat healthy foods? Please click the button, share, or leave a comment.
- I am looking forward to learning some tips from you! 🙂
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