Healthy Food and Eating

Your Little Chef

One of the best ways to help your child develop healthy eating habits is to get him involved in the kitchen! This will not only give him pride in helping out, but also give him choices. When food shopping, ask if he'd like this cheese or that, or what type of fruit he'd like to eat for lunch. When meal prep starts, there are many simple ways your child can help: stirring, cutting soft items with a spreader, tearing lettuce leaves for salad, pouring a filled measuring cup into a bowl, and so on. As you work together, talk about the food, the tools you're using to prepare it, and why it's healthy and delicious. Remember, it's up to you to model enthusiasm for a wide range of food - if you say something tastes "yucky," then in his mind it already does!

Has your toddler achieved the following Healthy Food and Eating developmental milestones yet? If yes, check off all the skill(s) he has already mastered to date!