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Home › Articles › Toddler Nutrition › Picky by Nature

Picky by Nature

Satisfying Finicky Tiny Diners

By April E. Clark

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture's five-group My Pyramid Plan is one resource that parents can follow when developing proper eating habits in young children. The color-coded pyramid features grains (orange), vegetables (green), fruits (red), milk (blue), and meats and beans (purple). The USDA suggests the general public "eat whole grains, vary colors of veggies, focus on fruit (and not necessarily fruit juices because of added sugars), consume calcium-rich food and go lean on protein."

Along with the My Pyramid Plan, the USDA has developed a creative avenue to get kids excited about what they're eating. The department offers a monthly calendar of events at www.fns.usda.gov/tn/calendar/index.htm to help parents and schools promote educational, nutrition-focused activities. Many of the activities are geared toward grade schools; however, parents of preschoolers can recognize different food-related events with their kids at home to promote variety in their diets. For example, February features:

  • National Cherry Month
  • National Hot Breakfast Month
  • Bake for Family Fun Month
  • North Carolina Sweet Potato Month
  • Florida Strawberry Month

March features:

  • National Frozen Food Month
  • National Nutrition Month
  • Johnny Appleseed Day
  • Pecan Day

These observances are all tasty opportunities to help make mealtime fun and motivate picky preschoolers to pick up their forks and eat, finally.

Tips for Picky Eaters

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the following tips for parents of picky preschool-age eaters:

  • Set a good example by eating healthy foods. Buy and try new fruits and vegetables and drink water between meals. Set an eating routine at home for meals and snacks, and children will learn by example.
  • Don't expect a child to like something new the first time. Offer it again in a week – it usually takes several tries before children are willing to try new foods.
  • Place a small amount of each food on a children's plate. Let them ask for more.
  • Allow children to explore foods. Young children often touch or smell the food on their plate.
  • Stick to a feeding routine.
  • Offer healthy foods. A child soon learns these are the foods in your home and will eventually eat them.

Berry Purple Smoothie

Recipe courtesy of the Canned Food Alliance.

1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple in juice, chilled
1 can (16.5 ounces) blueberries or blackberries in lite syrup, chilled and drained
1 1/2 cups small ice cubes
1 container (6 ounces) lemon or vanilla low-fat yogurt

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Serve immediately or keep chilled for up to one hour. Mix again before serving. Makes four servings.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: 218 calories; 1g fat; 3 mg cholesterol; 35mg sodium; 52g carbohydrate; 3g fiber; 3g protein


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