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Fit Future

Strategies for better living.

Parenting Strategies for Good Nutrition in 2008

By Jennifer Kerr, MS, RD

Research shows that when compared to picky eaters, children who enjoy a greater variety of foods have more nutritious diets.  As the variety of food increases, so does the variety of nutrients needed for growth, development and general health.  However, encouraging children to try new foods can be a challenge.

When parents present healthy meals and snacks in a pleasant and unassuming manner, children will learn to enjoy and appreciate a wide variety of food.  This can seem more easily said that done, but here is some help!

Here are some DO’S and DON’Ts when it comes to providing new foods to your children:

DO:

Eat healthfully yourself. Children are influenced by parents, particularly the parent of the same gender.

Introduce new foods along with well-liked familiar foods.

Allow children to decide how much to eat. Children require several smaller meals/snacks per day.

Use mealtime to strengthen family connectedness while helping children develop good eating habits.

DON’T:

Coax or beg children to eat.

Offer rewards or punishment for eating or not eating.

Rush children to finish a meal and refuse to offer snacks between meals.

Let children eat alone.

Allow distractions such as television.

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