Nutrition and Eating Habits for Preschoolers

By making food appealing & modeling good food habits caregivers can encourage good eating habits for kids.

Develop Healthy Eating Habits at Home Many things influence what and how much children eat. Children pick up all of the attitudes and behaviors of caregivers– including eating habits! ( Set a Good Example Eat together. Take it with you. Share the adventure Cook together Keep things positive Set a good example for physical activity, too. Walk, run, and play with child rather than sitting on the sidelines.

Offer a Variety of Foods Mix it up. Change your typical foods Children prefer mild flavors/aromas over stronger Start Small with Portions Use smaller bowls, plates, and utensils Don't insist that children finish all the food on their plate Teach them to take small amounts at first. Help Them Know When They've Had Enough Help your children keep listening to their bodies as they grow. Eat only as much as they want. Reward children with attention and kind words, not food Try not to restrict specific foods

Follow a Meal and Snack Schedule Plan for 3 meals and 1 or 2 snacks each day. Set reasonable limits for the start and end of a meal. Make Mealtime a Family Time Food easy to eat – bite sized and finger foods Cope with a Picky Eater Let your kids be “produce pickers.” Have them help you prepare the food. Offer choices Usually prefer foods eaten separately Offer the same foods for the whole family

Help Them Try New Foods Offer new foods many times Small portions Be a good role model Offer only one new food at a time Serve food plain if that is important to preschooler Make Food Fun Name a food your child helps create Cut a food into fun and easy shapes Special plates and napkins Encourage the child to invent and help prepare new snacks or sandwiches. Jazz up the taste of vegetables with low-fat dressings or dips

Teaching about Nutrition at School – Foods are used as learning tools Ask questions about quantity, texture, and appearance Spread peanut butter onto a celery stick and sprinkle raisons on top teaches healthy ingredients for snacks – Most likely the first time they have made an independent choice on what to eat

Nutrition Concerns

Poor Nutrition Forcing a child to eat, making an issue of eating certain foods, or using foods as a reward may lead to poor eating habits.  Parents are not aware of or understand basic nutrition.  Eating too often at fast food restaurants.  Parents often set bad examples Lack of money to buy healthful food is NOT the most common cause of poor nutrition.

Weight Problems  May look chunky or slim and can still be healthy  Consult a doctor before deciding your child is over/underweight and changing his or her diet  Recording daily diet and activities will help detect needed changes

Signs that children are meeting their nutritional needs:  Gaining weight at an appropriate rate  Children play and interact normally  Healthy most of the time, ill very seldom

Ways to Encourage Physical Activity 1.Involve children in daily activities 2.Enjoy fun activities together 3.Focus on age-appropriate activities 4.Model Active behavior in everyday activities 5.Find a team or individual sport that the child enjoys Encourage preschooler to play actively several times every day. Preschoolers' activity may happen in short bursts of time and not be all at once.

Teaching Self-Care Skills

Washing and Bathing  Less interested in washing & bathing regularly than they were when they were younger.  Praising children for taking a bath is much more affective than nagging them to do so.  Setting this hygiene routine helps children accept these tasks as expected behavior.

Tooth Care Regular tooth brushing and flossing Help until at least age five when they can handle their own tooth brush Dentist put fluoride on children’s teeth to strengthen them Get regular checkups and cleaning Children are at risk for tooth decay because permanent teeth are coming in

Dressing Helps Usually can dress themselves – Large opening – Easy to recognize front and back – Front openings – Elastic waistbands – Large and Easy fasteners – Shoes with self-adhesive straps

Choosing Clothing Help child find matching clothes Select by size not age Children vs Toddler sizing Teach responsibility Comfort, durability, and economy Growth features Safety

Clothing Choices –Express their personality –Have definite likes and dislikes in clothing –Some children become attached to clothing as they would a particular toy –Group identification is normal (especially older preschoolers/kindergarteners)

Sleeping – Three Years = ½ hours of sleep – Four Years = 11 – 11 ½ hours – Five Years = 11 hours Most don’t take afternoon naps

Sleeping – Set a bedtime & routine – Some need to listen to soft background noise, have a conversation, or cuddle with a stuffed animal to fall asleep – Some even ask to go to bed – Don’t forget about those fears! A well-rested child will be healthier and happier than a tired and irritable one.

Toileting By their fourth birthday most children have few toileting accidents. Accidents are signs of stress, changes, illnesses or an infection. When they begin school, some children may suffer constipation or sometimes wet their pants due to the stress and new routine.

Toileting Accidents – Accidents happen because: Too busy concentrating on other things to go In a new place and uncomfortable asking where to go Stress or changes – Ways to minimize accidents: Point out where restroom is in unfamiliar places and encourage them to ask Keep an extra outfit just in case Don’t call unnecessary attention to the situation – If accidents happen frequently, put them back in training pants

Outside Safety Bicycles Swings Slides Climbing equipment Traffic Strangers