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Healthy Eating Habits

Keep your preschooler’s food & beverage portions in check

Keep your preschooler’s food & beverage portions in check

Teach your child about appropriate serving sizes and healthy daily eating skills with the following tips:

  • Even in the long, lazy days of summer it is important to keep to your regular meal and snack routines. Routines are important to children as they need regular breaks during the day to fuel up and stay hydrated. Routines can help prevent all day snacking, excess calories or filling up on treats.

  • Offer smaller portions and let your child ask for more if she is still hungry. Typical portions for a preschooler or toddler are usually 1/4 - 1/2 of what you might serve an older child or adult.

  • Think about beverage portions too. Offer milk in 1/2 cup servings up to 2 cups per day and limit 100% juice to 1/2 cup per day. If your child is thirsty, water is a great thirst quencher. Don't let your child fill up on sugary drinks like carbonated beverages.

  • Serve snacks and meals family style. Let your preschooler pick the amount of food he wants to eat. This is a great way to help him learn about portions and his appetite. Of course, offer guidance if the portion is too big or he skips the vegetables. (Set a good example for your child by choosing vegetables for yourself!)

  • Let your child stop eating when she is full and don't make her clean her plate. MyPyramid for Preschoolers recommends using phrases like "Is your belly telling you that you're full?", "Has your tummy had enough?" or "Is your belly still making its hungry growling noise?"

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