Teaching children to eat right
Eating habits in children form as early as age 3, according to Monica Montes, a Los Angeles-area registered dietitian and co-founder of N.E.W. Health Consultants, Inc, this means the preschool years are an important developmental window for parents.
Monica offers the following tips so that families -- parents, grandparents and others present at mealtimes -- can prepare for these changes and respond appropriately.
-- Gradually introduce new foods one at a time, realizing that it can take
up to 15 tries before the child accepts it.
-- Try to add just one new food to a meal with three or so healthy foods
your child already enjoys.
-- Be sure to include new foods on your own plate.
-- Offer nutrient-rich foods from all the food groups, including low-fat
milk, vegetables, whole-grains and fruits.
-- Trust your preschooler's stomach, they will naturally regulate the
amount they eat.
-- Eat meals together as a family to model healthy habits.
To help families, Meals Matter, http://www.mealsmatter.org/ a nutrition website developed by registered dietitians at Dairy Council of California, offers an informational series in English and Spanish specifically for families with preschool-aged children.
Paula
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