Healthy Eating Habits for Toddlers

With the holidays coming up, it only seemed fitting to talk about healthy eating habits for our little babies. When Kaia started to get on solid foods, she ate what we ate and I never went into preparing a different meal just for her unless of course it was too spicy. I know some parents have a challenge feeding their kids healthy foods, but I think if you incorporate it early and they also see you eating it, meal times can be so much easier. We love to eat real foods and with her in the prime stages of her growth, we want her to eat foods that fuel her brain and growth. One of her favorite meals is salmon and avocados, and it’s loaded with healthy fats loaded with omega-3 fatty acids.

Living in Hawaii we eat a ton of fruit and that’s what we eat first thing in the morning with a glass of glowing green smoothie, which she absolutely loves and always asks for more! If your child is having a hard time with eating vegetables, make a smoothie out of it to “hide” it and that way they will getting the nutrients they need.

Here are some tips for healthy eating habits for toddlers:

Start the day with a healthy breakfast. This will fuel their body and energy for the day.
Always eat together at meal times and that way kids also see you eating what they are eating.
While you are in the kitchen preparing a meal, have them be in there with you, even if it’s just them playing with pots and pans on the floor and praise them for “helping out.”
Serve a variety of foods so they won’t become picky eaters.
Eat more vegetables and fruits and aim for 2 cups a day.
Eat more whole grains and aim for 3 ounces a day.
Drinks tons of fluids and omit soda and juices.

We use all of Dr. Brown’s solid feeding plates, bowls and spoons. I love that they don’t skid and for the plates they are divided, so you give your child the right amount of portions. The spoons are perfect to fit into their little mouths, so food won’t be going all over the place with their spatula edge. You can find them on Amazon.com They come in sets of 2 each, so you will get 2 plates, 2 bowls and 2 spatula spoons.