Jan 10 2010
Encouraging Food Choices for a Healthy Diet
B E PAT I E N T. Young children may not be interested in trying new foods. Offer a new food more than once. Show your child how the rest of the family enjoys it. The food may be accepted when it becomes more familiar to your child.
BE A P L A N N E R . Most young children need a snack or two in addition to three regular daily meals.
+Offer foods from three or more of the five major food groups for breakfast and lunch.
+Offer foods from four or more of the five major food groups for the “main meal.”
+Plan snacks so they are not served too close to mealtime, and offer foods from two or more of the five major food groups.
BE A G O O D RO L E M O D E L . What you do can mean more than what you say. Your child learns from you about how and what to eat.
+Eat meals with your children whenever possible.
+Try new foods and new ways of preparing them with your children.
Both you and your children can be healthier by eating more darkgreen leafy vegetables, deep-yellow vegetables, fruits, and whole grain products.
+Walk, run, and play with your children, don’t just sit on the sidelines.
A family that is physically active together has lots of fun!