| Adventures in Kids Nutrition & Fitness! |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Toddlers
Toddlers� eating habits can often be, quite literally, for the birds: a peck on the plate at breakfast, another peck at lunch. Very young children may not eat much at a sitting and they often get hungry before the next meal. At this age, children may need to eat five or six times a day � three meals and two to three snacks. There are two common �snack pitfalls� to avoid with toddlers because once done, they can be hard to undo. The first is using sweets to reward good behavior. This sends the message that desserts are somehow better, or more valuable, than other foods, which can start a pattern of unhealthy eating. The second is pacifying your child with a snack just before a meal. This can decrease your child�s hunger and make him or her less willing to try new foods at the table. Structured snacks, given at approximately the same times every day, not only give your child a sense of control, but also establish that snacks are available only at certain times. Offer two or three nutritious choices and let your child choose. Here are some possibilities: * low-sugar, whole-grain breakfast cereals * cut-up fruit (if pieces are small and soft enough to avoid choking) * graham crackers * cheese slices cut into fun shapes Preschoolers Control is still a key issue at this age, so preschoolers also might enjoy the chance to choose their snack from the options you present. The desire for sweets can be quite strong at this age, but you can avoid the struggles. Don�t offer candy and cookies at snack time. You can decide not to stock them at all or, if you do, to keep them out of your child�s sight. Preschoolers are just learning to label their feelings, and they�ll often say "I�m hungry." The trouble is they could be just bored, tired, or in need of some attention. Try to figure out what your child really needs. It may be that some playtime with you or a change of scenery could cause the cries of "I�m hungry" to subside. Also, when your child does need a snack, make sure it's eaten at the table and not in front of the TV. Healthy snacks for preschoolers include: * applesauce * yogurt * low-fat granola * raisins * veggie sticks topped with peanut butter * whole-grain crackers topped with cheese * fruit smoothies From: http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/food/general/snacking.html |
 |
| Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids! |
| Helpful Hints |
|
| dd |
| dd |
 |
 |