How to establish your little one’s healthy eating habits 

A big part of raising healthy, happy children is giving them the nutrition and nourishment they need to thrive. It’s never too early to model and establish healthy eating habits, and they’re skills your child can carry with them throughout the rest of their life. Here are some Kari-tips to help.Know that appetites are uniqueJust as your appetite might be different to someone else’s – and could even change between one day and the next – your child’s appetite is unique to them and could vary based on growth spurts, exercise and their attention span on any given day. Rather than getting too worried about the amount your child is (or isn’t) eating, focus on serving them healthy food options and letting them decide how much to eat. Offer regular healthy meals and snacks throughout the day – this could be breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus two snacks per day for a toddler.Create a positive mealtime experienceKeep mealtimes relaxed, pleasant and a time for family bonding. Switch off the television, expect some mess and eat together whenever you can, as this gives you an opportunity to role model the enjoyment of healthy foods for your child. If your toddler rejects food, that’s okay. Most toddlers go through a phase of fussy eating that helps them assert their independence. Rather than making big deal out of it, remove the food and wait until the next opportunity to eat.Make healthy food funOffer a wide range of healthy fruits and vegetables in the colour of the rainbow – red, yellow, green, purple and orange. You could also try cutting sandwiches and fruit into fun and interesting shapes, or even getting your little one involved in the cooking process by whisking eggs, mixing a fruit salad or picking herbs.Steer away from bribes or punishmentOffering bribes or punishment around eating can make certain foods seem desirable and others seem undesirable. For example, if ice cream is offered as a reward for finishing a serve of broccoli, this could signal that eating vegetables is a chore. Instead, communicate the difference between ‘everyday’ and ‘sometimes’ foods, and remember you’re in charge of when those ‘sometimes’ are. Need more advice on helping your tiny tot with their fussy eating? Contact our Careline, a team of experts that can provide advice and support on all things parenting. No matter how big or small.