01/08/2026
Healthy eating is important at every age. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy or fortified soy alternatives. When deciding what to eat or drink, choose options that are full of nutrients and limited in added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium. Start with these tips:
1️⃣ Model healthy behaviors: Preschoolers tend to copy what parents or caregivers do at the table. If you eat your veggies, they'll eat their veggies. And, it's good for both of you.
2️⃣ Think about their drinks: Beverages with no added sugars like water, unsweetened fat-free or low-fat milk (including low-lactose or lactose-free options), or fortified soy beverages should be the primary choice for children.
3️⃣ Prevent choking: Encourage children to sit at a table for meals and snacks and not wander around carrying food. Check out website-specific information for foods that are choking hazards at different ages.
4️⃣ Try new foods: Let children choose a new food to try at the grocery store. Serve something your child likes along with the new food. It may take up to a dozen tries for a child to accept a new food.
5️⃣ Get kids involved: Preschoolers can help at mealtimes by washing produce, tearing lettuce, stirring mixes, scooping ingredients, or setting the table.
6️⃣ Offer choices: Like adults, preschoolers like to have a say in what they eat. "A pear or an apple?" "Whole-wheat toast or some crackers?" You offer healthy options, but they get to choose.
All information provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — https://fb.com/USDA
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