You need a few tricks up your sleeve to get kids to eat healthy, whether you're a preschool teacher, a childcare provider, or a flustered parent.

To make mealtimes go a bit smoother for your picky eaters, try these four tips. We can't guarantee that your two-year-old will never spit his carrot sticks on the floor again, but you can take meaningful measures in the right direction with these tips.

Offer options

No one, particularly rambunctious toddlers or older kids trying to assert their freedom, likes to be forced to do something. At the kitchen table, this idea is true, too. Although the choice between apple slices and peanut butter and celery may not seem like much, it gives kids the choices they like, while also holding you in dietary control. If they feel like it was their idea, your little one may be more willing to try a new meal or nutritious recipe.

Include your children while cooking

When they have had a hand in preparing it, children are more likely to give a new food a chance. All successful starting points are simple tasks, such as weighing ingredients, stirring a cup, or tossing a salad. They can see how large dishes and whole meals fall together as they do these basic activities, giving them a primer for planning their own nutritious meals as they grow older. Food for preschoolers often implies slower and simpler food preparation, but it's worth the payoff!

Snack strategically

Snacks are a part of life for kids and grown-ups alike, but keeping these snacks in check is important. Remember to keep snack portion sizes small for kids. Additionally, you may want to try to avoid ruining their appetite for dinner by having treats so close to dinner. You may want to try giving them a taste of the vegetables or other ingredients you are cooking with if it's near to dinnertime.

Leading by example

Kids are profoundly impacted by their environment, including culture, media, and family. Particularly critical is parental control. The behaviors and practices of parents about food can contribute to balanced or disordered eating. The positive news is that there are several approaches linked to the development of healthier eaters:

  • Expose a range of healthy and novel foods to children
  • When they choose healthier meals, praise them
  • Make sure that people are also eating nutritiously around the kids because they see it modeled for them.

Now that you have established methods for motivating children to eat healthily, it's time to make full use of them. You'll be able to take the struggle out of mealtime with a little luck and help the next generation establish healthier habits for life.