During the preschool years, kids go from toddlers who often
throw tantrums to kids who are more willing to cooperate and want
to please their parents. They also want to do things themselves,
but are willing to learn from mom and dad. This give-and-take
creates opportunities for parents to teach kids about healthy food
choices in new and exciting ways.
A balanced diet gives kids the nutrients necessary for optimal
growth and development, and the energy for the exploration. Through
eating right and playing a lot, preschoolers can maintain a healthy
weight and stay energized as they get ready for the next big step
in their young lives: kindergarten.
The Parent's Role
Guiding a child's eating habits is delicate work. You want
to encourage kids to make good choices, but without hovering or
pestering. Take charge by presenting mostly healthy foods, but
don't teach that certain foods are "bad." You want
your preschooler to eat enough nutritious food, but you don't
want to start negotiating the number of bites of dinner that must
be eaten to get dessert. These approaches usually don't work,
and may make it more likely that a child will end up eating less
healthy food and more calories.
At a parent's request, a preschooler may be willing to try
new foods - especially if mom and dad are eating the same thing.
There's nothing wrong with serving foods you know your child
likes, but they shouldn't always be on the menu. Serve a
variety of foods and don't cater to a child's limited
palate. Don't fall into the trap of fixing a meal specifically
for your child that is different from your own - before you know
it, you will be fixing two dinners every night.
It may seem illogical but it's better to present a range of
foods, even if your child sometimes refuses to eat anything on the
plate. It's normal to want your child to eat at dinner, but
it's also important to know that skipping one meal will not
harm healthy kids. Let the child know food will be available at the
next regular meal or snack time.
Encouraging a Healthy Diet
To encourage a well-rounded diet:
- Continue offering a variety of foods, even ones the child has
rejected in the past.
- Keep healthy foods in the house and limit the availability of
high-calorie, low-nutrient foods.
- Involve kids in meal preparation - for example, let them tear
lettuce for a salad or help set the table.
- Create a structure for daily meals and snacks, so kids
don't graze all day long.
- Have regular family meals and make them pleasant times for
the whole family to get together.
- Set a good example by eating a nutritious diet yourself.
Letting Kids Have Some Control
Parents may feel uneasy about giving preschoolers control over
how much they eat. But it's a limited kind of control. The
parent is responsible for setting the schedule for meals and snacks
and deciding which foods to serve. A child of 4 shouldn't be
getting his or her own snacks but can be given a choice and allowed
to decide whether to eat or not.
Preschoolers are old enough to begin understanding the concept
of being full, known as
satiety
. Kids who stop eating when they feel satisfied are less likely to
become overweight. Most kids naturally know if they're hungry
or full and can use these cues to properly control their food
intake. Kids who are encouraged to ignore these cues may learn to
override this internal control mechanism.
If your child chooses not to eat at a scheduled meal or snack
time, try to avoid arguing about it or being critical. Staying
neutral and calm will prevent the bigger problems that can arise
when parents and kids battle over food.
Reviewed by:
Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: April 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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