Children's Nutrition Tips Focus on Healthy Snacks

The Journal of Pediatrics says the average preschooler consumes nearly 65 pounds of added-sugar annually, yet only weighs between 30 and 50 pounds.This is one example of how the quality of children's diets is declining. Research shows children naturally eat what they need as long as they are offered healthy choices.

During National Nutrition Month, First 5 LA encourages parents to choose healthy snacks, including foods with calcium and iron like fresh fruits, vegetables, unsweetened cereals, tortillas, cheese or yogurt.  As a parent myself, I'd like to share some tips that have worked for my family:

Introduce a new food with one that your child already likes.

Give fun names to foods, like "little trees" for broccoli.

Give kids finger foods so they can be independent and practice coordination.

Allow your child to stop eating when he or she is no longer hungry.

Don't feed toddlers and young children in front of the TV – it can make them anxious.

Evelyn V. Martinez, Executive Director
First5