When it comes to planning a healthy diet for preschoolers, there are three main aspects that parents should take into account: variety, healthy eating habits, and portion size. It is essential to offer a wide range of foods every day. This will guarantee that your child is receiving all the essential nutrients they need for growth and development. Fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, and proteins should all be included in their diet.
Fostering healthy eating habits for all family members is also important. This means setting a good example by modeling healthy eating behaviors and avoiding using food as a reward or punishment. Additionally, it is essential to let your child decide if they are full or hungry. The amount of food that preschoolers need depends on a variety of factors, such as age, gender and level of physical activity.
The MyPlate plan can be used as a general guide to how much you should eat from each food group each day. In addition to nourishing the body and providing energy for growth and exploration, learning what to eat (in addition to when and how much) is an important aspect of developing and achieving milestones.