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How do I encourage healthy eating habits in my toddler?.
A
- Firstly try to have
regular family meals all together. Children like consistency and it is a chance
to introduce new foods and see their parents and siblings eating healthy foods.
- Be a role model by eating
healthy yourself. Your children learn from you and if you eat a huge plate
of junk food you are not giving your child the right messages. Try to let
them see you eating fruits and vegetables and making healthy choices.
- Remember portion control,
the Department of Health in their make a change for life program recommend
giving smaller portions to children and allowing them to have more if they
are still hungry. Parents too need to act as role models, stopping eating
when you are full and monitoring food portions
- Involve your child in
the selection of healthy foods at the supermarket, ask them what they would
like to have for their meals encouraging them to make healthy choices and
then cook it together
- Try not to have junk
food in the house. If the treats aren’t there they can’t have
them. If your child wants a snack try to offer healthy snacks of fruits and
vegetables instead. With a regular meal pattern of 3 meals per day, children
should not be hungry so limit snacks to 2 a day one in the morning and one
on the afternoon
- Talk to your child about
healthy eating and why making healthy food choices are good,
health visitor
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