Optimal Health Daily - Fitness and Nutrition 2680: How to Help Children Become Healthy Eaters - Especially Vegetables? by Dr. Laura Markham of Peaceful Parent Happy Kids
Aug 26, 2024
Dr. Laura Markham, a parenting expert and author, shares her insights on fostering healthy eating habits in children. She emphasizes the significance of repeated exposure to fruits and vegetables and encourages parents to offer choices without forcing them to eat. Markham highlights the value of creating a positive food environment and suggests allowing children to choose alternatives if they dislike a certain vegetable. Her strategies aim to make healthy eating enjoyable and accessible for kids.
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Expose Kids to Vegetables Repeatedly
- Consistently expose children to new vegetables and fruits to increase acceptance over time.
- Offer alternatives like raw carrots or peas instead of forcing disliked vegetables.
Kids' Food Resistance Is Protective
- Children's resistance to new food is a self-protection against potentially dangerous unknown foods.
- Most toddlers prefer food separated on the plate and may pick out vegetables if mixed in.
Incorporate Veggies Throughout Day
- Serve at least one vegetable and salad at dinner plus fruit as dessert or snack.
- Provide veggies as snacks during the day, such as celery sticks, baked sweet potatoes, or roasted veggies.