Feeding Children

Guideline #1 To boost good nutrition, include foods from at least two food groups at snack time. Like a smoothie with yogurt and strawberries. To boost good nutrition, include foods from at least two food groups at snack time. Like a smoothie with yogurt and strawberries.

Guideline #2 Serving snacks about two to three hours before mealtime is a good guideline. Serving snacks about two to three hours before mealtime is a good guideline.

Guideline #3 Older kids often feel hungry when they get home from school. Stock up on fixings for quick-to- make snacks, like fruit, FIG NEWTONS, bagels, bread, tortillas, cheese, peanut butter and ready-to-eat raw veggies. Older kids often feel hungry when they get home from school. Stock up on fixings for quick-to- make snacks, like fruit, FIG NEWTONS, bagels, bread, tortillas, cheese, peanut butter and ready-to-eat raw veggies. When you cook, make extra servings to freeze in sealable plastic containers. These individual portions are quick to heat up for kids who get home late from after-school sports or activities. When you cook, make extra servings to freeze in sealable plastic containers. These individual portions are quick to heat up for kids who get home late from after-school sports or activities.

Guideline #4 Remember snack safety. Remember snack safety. Seat and supervise young children during snack time. Seat and supervise young children during snack time. Cut foods such as hot dogs, meat, grapes, raw fruits and vegetables, and cheese cubes, into small bite-size pieces and encourage children to chew foods well. Cut foods such as hot dogs, meat, grapes, raw fruits and vegetables, and cheese cubes, into small bite-size pieces and encourage children to chew foods well. Avoid serving small, hard foods, such as nuts (that may cause choking if swallowed whole) to children under 6 years of age. Avoid serving small, hard foods, such as nuts (that may cause choking if swallowed whole) to children under 6 years of age.

Guideline #5 Make time for breakfast, even if it means waking your child 15 minutes earlier. Breakfast is the best time for milk and fiber. Make time for breakfast, even if it means waking your child 15 minutes earlier. Breakfast is the best time for milk and fiber.

Guideline #6 Add vegetables to favorite quick meals. Add vegetables to favorite quick meals. Top pizza with broccoli or red peppers. Top pizza with broccoli or red peppers. Stir mixed vegetables into pasta sauce. Stir mixed vegetables into pasta sauce. Toss chopped tomatoes into macaroni and cheese. Toss chopped tomatoes into macaroni and cheese. Puree vegetables in brownies. Puree vegetables in brownies.

Guideline #7 Encourage physical activities your children enjoy. Encourage physical activities your children enjoy.

Guideline #8 Help your child develop a healthy, realistic body image that ’ s not too thin or too muscular. Encourage sensible, balanced eating and activity. Help your child develop a healthy, realistic body image that ’ s not too thin or too muscular. Encourage sensible, balanced eating and activity.

Guideline #9 Sit down with your child at meal and snack times and be a positive role model for healthy eating. Sit down with your child at meal and snack times and be a positive role model for healthy eating.

Guideline #10 At mealtime, serve at least one healthy food that you know your little one loves. At mealtime, serve at least one healthy food that you know your little one loves.

Guideline #11 Let your child decide how much to eat. Let your child decide how much to eat. This encourages them to listen to their own body cues and choose amounts that are “ just right ” for them. This encourages them to listen to their own body cues and choose amounts that are “ just right ” for them. Give them time to eat so they can tune into these signals. Give them time to eat so they can tune into these signals.

Guideline #12 Try, try again... When you ’ re introducing new foods. Some children have to see a new food up to 10 times before they feel brave enough to try it. Be sure they see you enjoying the food, since many kids want to be like their parents. Try, try again... When you ’ re introducing new foods. Some children have to see a new food up to 10 times before they feel brave enough to try it. Be sure they see you enjoying the food, since many kids want to be like their parents.

Guideline #13 Don ’ t coax or beg your child to eat. Eating (or not eating) is one of the few things that young kids can control. The more you push, the more your child may push back by refusing to eat. Simply offer foods at meals and snack times. Don ’ t coax or beg your child to eat. Eating (or not eating) is one of the few things that young kids can control. The more you push, the more your child may push back by refusing to eat. Simply offer foods at meals and snack times.

Guideline #14 Decide what to serve, and stick with your decision, even if your child begs for something else. Decide what to serve, and stick with your decision, even if your child begs for something else. If you start making other foods on demand, your child might expect you to be a short order cook at every meal. If you start making other foods on demand, your child might expect you to be a short order cook at every meal.

Guideline #15 Start by serving them small portions at meals and snacks and let them ask for more. By four years of age, most children are ready for regular-size portions. Start by serving them small portions at meals and snacks and let them ask for more. By four years of age, most children are ready for regular-size portions.

2 year-old 5 year-old 10 year old Food Groups: 1,000 Calories 1,400 Calories 1,800 Calories Fruits 1 cup 1.5 cups Vegetables 1 cup 1.5 cups 2.5 cups Grains 3 oz. 5 oz. 6 oz. Meat 2 oz. 4 oz. 5 oz. Milk 2 cups 3 cups Oil 3 tsp. 4 tsp. 5 tsp.

Planning Meals for Young Children Menu A Fried hamburger on a bun French fries Fried apple pies Milk Menu B Meat loaf Mashed potatoes ApplesauceGrits Vanilla pudding Milk

Menu C Meatballs Green beans Brussels sprouts Dinner rolls Dip of lime sherbet Milk Menu D Baked trout Baked potato Stuffed acorn squash Garlic bread Milk

The End. The End.