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If you have a finicky toddler or preschooler like I do, meal times can become quite a stressful event instead of an enjoyable one. I am always trying to find new ways to get my little one to eat and I came across these tips at Parent Center that work for me:

Eating well gives your preschooler the energy he needs to learn and grow. And it'll help him stay healthy, maintain a healthy weight, and establish good lifelong eating habits. Here are some ways to make nutritious food the most appealing choice:

Get your preschooler involved

A great way to get your preschooler excited about eating a range of healthy foods is to involve him in the family's meal-planning decisions. Let him help you make out menus and a grocery list. Have him check to see whether you're out of grapes and suggest favorite suppers or breakfasts.

When you take him food shopping, ask him to hold the grocery list for you as you shop. Give him a few choices to make along the way: Peaches or mangoes? Peas or carrots? Graham crackers or fig bars?

Show your child how you check for specific ingredients on the nutrition labels of the foods you choose — and those you put back on the shelf.

Make a habit of selecting one new fruit or vegetable to try each week, keeping in mind that your child may not be interested in trying something unfamiliar until it's been offered numerous times.

To encourage your child to take some responsibility for his own nutrition, you could help him create his own daily food chart, with boxes for each category: fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy, and meat/protein. (Check out the United States Department of Agriculture's ready-made chart to get started.)

Show your child how to color in or check off the appropriate boxes when he finishes a meal or snack. Then look at the chart together at the end of each day to tally how well he did in meeting his nutritional goals.- Read more at Parent Center

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Filed under: Childrens' Health, Featured, Tips & Advice