Did you know that March is officially National Nutrition Month? While it’s always appropriate to think about good nutrition, this seems like a great time to tackle some tips that will help your young child develop healthy eating habits so that he or she continues to grow into a healthy adult. Eating right helps him or her learn new words and skills, as well as fuel all of that youthful energy. Here’s what mypyramid.gov/preschoolers suggests:
Your preschooler needs fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and protein every day, so that his growing body will have plenty of fuel.- Set a good example. Let your child see you enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables at snack time. Eat together as a family as often as you can, so that your preschooler will learn that healthy meals are important for the whole family.
- Plan three healthy meals, plus one or two healthy snacks every day. Everything your child eats should be nutritious and healthful for his growing body.
- Let kids pick produce at the supermarket. When they’re more invested in their food, they will be more willing to eat it!
For instance, a healthy breakfast for a three-year-old boy, who weighs 35 pounds and is physically active, would be the following:- ½ cup cooked oatmeal
- ½ cup milk
- 1 scrambled egg
A two-year-old girl, who weighs 30 pounds and is also physically active, should be consuming 1,000 calories per day. A healthy dinner for her would be the following:
- 1 oz. serving of chicken breast
- ¼ cup mashed potatoes
- ¼ cup green peas
- ½ small whole wheat roll
- ½ cup milk
Posted by wk
