1. Childhood Illnesses Slideshow Pictures
2. Parenting and Healthy Eating Slideshow Pictures
3. Parenting - Fitness and Exercise Slideshow Pictures

In this Article

• What should my toddler be eating?
• How do I ensure that my toddler is getting enough vitamins and minerals?
• How do I get my toddler to eat in general and eat vegetables in particular?
• Is there a limit to how much seafood my toddler can eat each week?
• Is there a limit to how much juice, milk or salt my toddler should consume each day?
• How do I deal with my toddler's temper tantrums at mealtimes?
• Should I be feeding my toddler low-fat foods to avoid childhood obesity?
• Should I be concerned that my toddler eats hair, sand, and dirt?
• How do I incorporate breastfeeding into my toddler's feeding schedule?
• I think my child may have a food allergy. What should I do?
• How can I instill healthy eating habits in my child?
• Where can I find healthy recipes for my toddler?
• Toddler Food Guidelines At A Glance
• Toddler Food Guidelines Index

How can I instill healthy eating habits in my child?

Nutrition specialists recommend the following to promote proper nutrition.

1. Lead by example. If you follow a healthy diet, it is more likely your child will also.



2. Avoid "fast foods." These foods are much more likely to have high fat and added salt
.


3. Don't battle over eating. If your toddler isn't hungry, don't panic. He will eat when he is. If he doesn't eat a meal, don't fill him up with milk.



4. Avoid bargaining. "If you eat this, you'll get a cookie."



5. Allow treats, but avoid allowing them to become a mainstay of the diet. They should be "a treat."

Where can I find healthy recipes for my toddler?

Cooking for Kids on the Food Network
http://www.foodnetwork.com/cooking-for-kids/package/index.html

Betty Crocker editors. Betty Crocker's Kids Cook! Hoboken: Wiley, 2007.

Davis, Tina. Look and Cook: A Cookbook for Children. New York: Stewart, Tabori and Chang, 2004.

Toddler Food Guidelines At A Glance

• Toddlers eat because they are hungry and it is fun. Eliminate either of these and an unnecessary battle between toddler and parents may ensue.
• Children less than 2 years of age have no restrictions on fat/cholesterol intake. Those over 2 years of age should participate in the heart healthy diet that their parents (hopefully) follow. As such, parents should lead by example.
• Poor nutrition is brought upon by excessive sugar ingestion, foods high in fat/cholesterol, empty calories (for example, high fructose corn syrup), trans fats, and excessive salt intake.
• Food protein allergy may be severe, moderate, or mild in manifestation. Food allergies may be evaluated by either blood tests or scratch tests of the skin.

REFERENCES:

Davis, M.M., B. Grace-Cleveland, S. Hassink, R. Johnson, G. Paradis, and K. Resnicow. "Recommendations for the Prevention of Childhood Obesity." Pediatrics 120 (2007): S229-S253.

Environmental Defense Fund. "Seafood Selector." Apr. 13, 2009. <http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=17694>.

United States. Medline Plus. "Food Allergy." Nov. 3, 2009. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/foodallergy.html>.

United States. Medline Plus. "Infant and Toddler Nutrition." Apr. 12, 2010. <http://nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infantandtoddlernutrition.html>.