Picky eating is often the norm for toddlers and young children. After the rapid growth of infancy, most children start to develop food preferences. However, proper nutrition is essential during childhood to promote overall healthy development as they continue to grow.
As a trusted provider of early childhood education in Bowie, Maryland, we will share a few strategies that can help you deal with children who are picky eaters.
- Prepare family-style meals.
Instead of plating each family member’s meal, try to serve family-style meals instead. Sharing the meal as a family will encourage your child to try new foods. This also eliminates media distractions like the TV during mealtime and for parents and other adults in the family to model healthy eating habits. - Add more variety to meals.
In addition to a preschool program, encouraging your child to eat healthily will promote healthy development. When preparing meals, try to offer a variety of healthy ingredients. This allows your child to explore new flavors and different textures as they expand their diets. - Increase your child’s involvement.
Another way to encourage your child to eat healthily is to involve them in meal planning. Take your child with you when picking out ingredients at the grocery store and allow them to help with simple tasks during meal preparation. Explain how certain ingredients are good for them and pick out kid-friendly recipes to try together.
Nora’s Angel’s Early Learning Center is a leading provider of exceptional childcare in Maryland. From infant care to preschool and pre-kindergarten, we offer several programs for children ages six weeks to five years old. Contact us for inquiries about our programs.
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