Best Strategies for Introducing Healthy Eating Habits to Toddlers?

[urfia9s]

Hi Mumsnet community! I'm a first-time parent and am beginning to think about how to introduce healthy eating habits to my toddler. I know this can sometimes be a challenge, so I'm looking for some tried-and-true strategies from fellow parents. How did you manage to get your little ones excited about nutritious foods? Did you find any creative ways to incorporate fruits and veggies into their meals? And how do you handle any resistance or picky eating behaviors? I'd love to hear about your experiences, tips, and success stories. Let's share our wisdom and support each other on this exciting journey of raising healthy eaters!

How old is your DC now?

I think setting good foundations starts at weaning and by modelling healthy habits yourself.

Our DC have always since starting with baby led weaning eaten the same food as us at meal times perhaps with some modifications when a baby and we always sit and have meals together.

We haven’t really had to think of creative ways to add veggies etc. veg is always on the plate. Sometimes they’ll pick something up but spit it out but we don’t react and they might try it again several times and then have eaten it all by the end of a meal. And next time they might not split it out or they still might! It doesn’t matter. Keep putting foods on their plate again and again so they can get used to them. Don’t be put off if they don’t try something, or don’t appear to like something, they might eat it next time.

I think allowing them the space to be with the food without pressure is really important.

Also did you mean to put this thread in human rights? You might want to ask MNHQ to move it.

Eat with your child: sit down at a table and eat together as a family.
Give your child whatever you eat - don't start with the chicken nuggets and other crap.

This isn't realistic a lot of the time. Young children usually need to eat dinner earlier than their parents or they eat at nursery. Some adults, like me don't eat breakfast so am not going to force myself to eat at 8 in the morning!

I agree that there should be no pressure whatsoever and that means not staring and commenting when they eat. Not rewarding them with a desert, not congratulating them when they eat broccoli!

Children often mimic the eating habits of adults. Eat a variety of nutritious foods and model healthy eating behaviors. If they see you enjoying fruits and vegetables, they may be more inclined to try them. I think its Best Strategies for Introducing Healthy Eating Habits to Toddlers? anyone assist me. Thanks

This. No ‘kids food’ or separate kids meals. Small portions of healthy balanced and interesting meals. Let them be involved in cooking and preparing food. Don’t demonise vegetables by hiding them or rewarding when they eat them. Even if you don’t have your dinner with them, sit with them and have a snack and talk to them.

Also, don’t tell them off for spitting something out. They’re so much more likely to try putting something new/different in their mouths if they know they can spit it straight out if they don’t like it.