Vegetable Wars?

Each child is allowed ONE dislike - a preselected vegetable that they don`t like and aren`t required to eat.

All other vegetables need to be eaten in some small quantity during each meal.

Encourage new foods

Does your child balk at new foods? Request that she try "two polite, no thank-you bites." This can become a regular phrase for your child. Once she tries the food, she may like it and continue eating. If she does not like it after two bites, she is free to decline eating more.

Set an Example

As with teaching anything to preschoolers, you can promote good nutrition by setting a good example. Healthy eating habits and regular exercise should be a regular part of your family´s life. It is much easier if everyone in the house is trying to maintain good health and eat right.

Homemade Baby Food-Quick Prep

Want to prepare homemade baby food quickly? Cook and prepare the item, such as a sweet potato, and then freeze the leftovers in an ice cube tray. When you are ready to use it, simply defrost and it is ready to serve.

Fruits for fussy eaters

Does your fussy eater balk at fruits? Try smoothies. Add your choice of fruits, i.e. banana and strawberries, and a liquid, such as milk or orange juice, and mix in blender. Serve with a straw and your child will be asking for more.

Healthy Rollups

Spread a single slice of bread with desired filling, cut crusts off then roll it up and wrap with cling film and freeze it. Make up to ten and when you have a hungry youngster around, take one out and it`s ready to eat - what a time saver! These are also perfect to pack them in their lunchbox for preschool. Children love the different shape.

Add nutrition to P&J sandwich

Want to add extra nutritional value to your child´s peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Mash some sweet potato and mix it into the peanut butter side of the bread. Your child won´t notice and the meal will be healthier.

Garlic for health?

If you believe that garlic helps strengthen your immune system and/or allieviates colds, but can´t give supplements or raw garlic to your little ones try garlic bread. Garlic bread can be made by mincing garlic and stirring it into butter or olive oil to spread onto bread of any type and bake, toast or grill until crisp. Kids love it and many believe it keeps the ills at bay.

Portions for children

Preschoolers are often picky eaters. It is far better to give your child small portions of food than large portions. Small portions are less intimidating and give your child an opportunity to ask for more if s/he is still hungry. Serving a lot of food often results in a lot of food left on the plate and a battle between parent and child.

Getting kids to eat veggies

Having trouble getting your little one to eat vegetables? Try cutting them up and combining them in a soup. The flavor of the broth may be appealing to the child and will distract her from the fact that there are vegetables in it. If you find that your child likes a particular kind of canned soup, you can strenthen its nutritional and economic value be adding your own freshly cooked vegetables to the store bought soup.

Food Additives

If your child has any recurring illness or behavioural problems, it may be wise to consider the impact of food additives. There are a number of good sites about food additives - one being: http://www.additives.8m.com/english.htm

Main Considerations

The best nutrition advise to keep your child healthy includes encouraging her to:

Eat a variety of foods
Balance the food you eat with physical activity
Choose a diet with plenty of grain products, vegetables and fruits
Choose a diet low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol
Choose a diet moderate in sugars and salt
Choose a diet that provides enough calcium and iron to meet their growing body´s requirements

Nutrition for fussy eaters

When feeding a picky eater, it is important to offer all of the food groups at each meal. Therefore, at breakfast, lunch and dinner offer her a bread or cereal item, a dairy item, a fruit or vegetable, and a protein source. The key is to offer, not force the foods. Studies have shown that children will eat a well rounded diet over the course of a week, if they are continually offered healthy choices. Offering each group at each meal presents opportunity. Sweets should not be one of the mealtime choices.