Many eating habits are formed during early childhood that continue throughout life. Early childcare and education professionals can observe and influence a child’s eating habits since you may provide as many as two meals and snacks each day.

Every day, adults provide children with healthy foods that supply nutrients (vitamins and minerals as well as energy) in appropriate amounts to meet children’s growth and development needs. Specifically, these are foods that are naturally nutrient-dense, such as colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grain products, low-fat meats and other protein sources, and low-fat dairy foods.

Menus should provide a variety of nutrient-dense foods every day. Once foods are selected, be sure to prepare food in ways to preserve nutrients, such as baking or stir-frying rather than frying. Then, guide children in deciding what and how much to eat.

• Serve fresh, frozen, or canned fruits (packed in water, not syrup) rather than high-calorie, low-fiber juices.
• Prepare tasty foods with pleasant textures. Avoid overcooked vegetables by lightly cooking to a crisp-tender stage.
• Make foods appealing. Use attractive serving dishes or arrange foods in a colorful array on the plate.
• Serve all foods at one time and allow children to eat foods in the order they prefer. It is okay if they eat fruit first and peas last. It also is okay if they choose not to eat a specific food.

Caregivers can and should notice a child’s appetite and eating habits, and share this information with parents. Infants should be fed on demand. Recognize the signs of hunger for each infant, such as sucking on their fist or crying. Learn to differentiate between hunger signs and signs of boredom, need for a diaper change, or tiredness.

Help toddlers and older children learn their own bodies’ signals, and encourage them to decide when to eat and to stop eating. Teach children to recognize feelings of hunger, such as the “tummy talk” (growls) or an empty feeling. Help them become aware of how these feelings change when they eat food.

Do not encourage a child to eat more than his or her body calls for. Young children have very small stomachs and need small but frequent meals and snacks, generally about every 2 1/2-3 hours.

• Provide small meals and snacks on a regular schedule. If a child does not eat or eats very little at a meal, do not worry. He will eat at the next snack or meal.
• Do not allow children to “graze” or drink sweetened beverages throughout the day. Continual eating and drinking provide calories and reduce hunger, but often cause the child to refuse the more nutritious foods at mealtime or snack time. Instead, offer water between meals and snack times.
• Teach children to chew their food well and eat slowly. Eating more slowly allows them to taste the foods more intensely, reduces the possibility of choking, and allows their bodies time to feel fullness.

Learning to make decisions is an important skill for young children, and snack and meal times provide a wonderful opportunity for children to practice this skill. Allowing choices also helps prevent food battles over what children will and will not eat as children feel empowered.

Have a choice of two items at snack time. You might offer a choice of two different beverages with crackers. Or, offer two types of cheese crackers with milk. When possible, serve meals and snacks family style. Assist children in serving themselves by providing non-slip serving bowls and plates and using easy-to-hold utensils to serve appropriate portions.

Introduce a new food several times and in different ways. Many children will not like a food the first time. It may take many times before a child truly decides whether he likes or dislikes a food. Try preparing foods in different ways and offer choices.

Encourage children to eat a variety of foods--different food groups, colors, shapes, textures, and tastes. Consider designating a “snack drawer” or bowl that children can easily and safety access.

Provide nutritious and easy-to-eat foods such as crackers, fruit cups, or low-fat pudding cups. With young children, encourage them to tell the parent or adult when they are hungry, and then allow them to get their own snack.

Food preparation and serving provide unique opportunities for children to develop skills. Plan food activities so children can help make their own snacks. They can select the apples and peel bananas for fruit salad.

Let children create edible designs with finger foods. Use small cookie cutters with bread and cheese for individual sandwiches. Serve children’s favorite foods when possible.

Encourage children to learn table manners, but consider what is appropriate for the child’s age and developmental level. Toddlers will have more success with simple finger foods as they are just learning to use a spoon, and may not be ready for a fork. Preschoolers are better able to manage utensils and should be encouraged to use forks or spoons.

Young children will sometimes be messy so be patient! Provide a variety of foods at mealtime such as potatoes or beans (to eat with the fork) and a biscuit or tortilla that they can pick up with their fingers.

Encourage conversation during meals. Children and adults can talk about many topics. While you may discuss the foods being served, you can also talk about the morning activities, a book you read, or an upcoming field trip. Encourage children to come up with topics.

Keep in mind, however, that children often enjoy talking about “boogers” or other topics that may not be appropriate during mealtime. If this occurs, gently guide the conversation to more suitable topics.

Allow children to help serve meals by placing napkins or utensils on the table or carrying unbreakable plates. They can also help clean up by throwing away trash or wiping the table. (The adult should then sanitize the table.)

Helping young children learn about healthy eating and healthy choices can lead to a lifetime of good nutrition habits.

Charlotte Hendricks, Editor, Healthy Childcare

American Dietetic Association, 120 S. Riverside Pl., Ste. 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995; 800-877-1600; www.eatright.org

National Food Service Management Institute, University of Mississippi, Jeanette Phillips Dr., PO Drawer 188, University, MS 38677-0188; 800-321-3054; www.nfsmi.org

USDA’s Team Nutrition, 3101 Park Center Dr., Rm 632, Alexandria, VA 22302; 703-305-1624; www.nal.usda.gov/Childcare

Bright Futures, www.brightfutures.org/nutritionfamfact/index.htm

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, search for ‘healthy children, healthy choices,’ www.cdc.gov

Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, www.usda.gov/cnpp/KidsPy

Five a Day, www.5aday.gov

New York Department of Health, www.health.state.ny.us/prevention/nutrition/resources/obchcare.htm

Nutrition Central, spec.lib.vt.edu/culinary/Nutrition.Central

Zero to Three, www.zerotothree.org