• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Ideas to Promote Healthy Eating Habits in Preschoolers

January 5, 2011 by ds_15457 Leave a Comment

Preschoolers aren’t always known for their agreeable eating habits. Picky eating is common with this age group, with vegetables often being a tough sell. A little creativity in the kitchen can help make healthy eating easier for your preschooler. Starting him out early on a healthy diet increases the chances of a healthier diet down the road.

Get Them in the Kitchen

Cooking with your preschooler might encourage her to try the healthy foods she creates. The ownership in the meal makes it more appealing to many young children. Cooking also gives your child a chance to explore food and ingredient combinations. Plan for extra meal prep time when your preschooler helps in the kitchen. You’ll also need to set safety rules before your child works in the kitchen. These rules include not touching appliances, staying away from the stove, and never handling knives or other sharp utensils. Make sure your child understands she needs to wait for instructions from you.

Get Creative

A plate of fresh vegetables at snack time is nutritious but lacks appeal to many preschoolers. A creative, child-friendly presentation makes healthy food more interesting for the preschool age group. Add a scoop of hummus or nut butter as glue for the vegetable pieces. Let your child build something out of the vegetables as he snacks on them. Cookie cutters are a simple way to make food appealing. Cut sandwiches, cheese, fruit and other healthy foods with the cookie cutters to make them interesting shapes.

Experiment

The same old fruits and vegetables every day get boring for all members of the family. Experimenting with different foods makes meal and snack time more exciting, especially if you have an adventurous preschooler who likes to try new things. Browse the produce section in search of a fruit or vegetable you’ve never tried. Replace your usual grains with quinoa or barley. Instead of flavored yogurt cups, pick up a carton of plain yogurt and add in your own flavorings.

Talk About It

Preschoolers are at a prime age for starting conversations about healthy eating. Let your child know why fruits and vegetables make him healthier. As you cruise the grocery store aisles, point out different options and why some options are healthier than others. The cereal aisle is a good location for this discussion. Help your preschooler figure out why a sugary cereal isn’t as healthy as a whole-grain cereal with less sugar. Turn it into a game by challenging your preschooler to spot healthy foods at the store.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Food & Drink

About ds_15457

Shelley Frost has been a freelance writer since 2007, specializing in parenting and education. Her work can be found on websites such as ModernMom.com and PreschoolRock.com. Frost holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education with a minor in reading from the University of Northern Iowa.

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

We Are Never “Asking For It”

The following is a guest post by Alane Miller Howell, … [Read More...] about We Are Never “Asking For It”

Must Have

ToniBox

Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

If you are looking for something to occupy your children … [Read More...] about Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

Did you know?

How Early to Take a Pregnancy Test

How Early to Take a Pregnancy Test

women get pregnant if she Is not ovulating

Can a Women Get Pregnant if She Is Not Ovulating?

basal temperature as sign of pregnancy

Basal Temperature As Sign of Pregnancy

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

Cravings & the Sex of the Baby

I Bought Smoked Pork Chops & Don't Know How to Cook Them

I Bought Smoked Pork Chops & Don’t Know How to Cook Them

Can I Use Baking Powder to Thicken Sauce

Can I Use Baking Powder to Thicken Sauce?

abdominal pain on the left side in pregnancy

Abdominal Pain on the Left Side in Pregnancy

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.