There's an old saying, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink". I've felt this way as a parent when feeding my child who had a hard time eating. I learned that my job was to provide healthful food options and encouragement, and my children had the power to choose to eat them or not.

Here are a few tips that I've learned over the years as a parent and preschool teacher to help children explore and enjoy a variety of healthy foods.

Offer a variety of foods from all of the food groups (grain, protein, fruit, vegetables, dairy). Save sweet and salty snacks for "sometimes treats".
Explore new foods together, but don't require them to eat them. Encourage them smell the food or to touch it to their tongue, if they don't necessarily want to take a bite. Ask questions about the foods such as: "Is it soft? crunchy?" The other day at snack we noticed that the peas popped when we took a bite! This encouraged some who were hesitant to try the peas.
Show flexibility, model trying new foods with your child. Refrain from speaking negatively about your own dislikes.
Involve your child in the process. They are more likely to try things that they've been able to help with.
Garden together - children are very excited to eat food that they've grown in their own yard or in a pot on the patio or even inside by a sunny window. Lettuce and herbs grow well in a pot if you are limited for space.
Grocery shop together - talk about where different foods come from. Older children can help to write or "read" the grocery list.
Visit a farm or orchard to see where foods come from.
Cook together - let your child stir, add ingredients, etc. Personal pizzas with naan bread are fun to make. Kids can spread on sauce and add their favorite toppings!
Go to the library and find books about food! This is a great way to learn about foods from a variety of cultures. Here are a few of my favorites:

Tips for Raising Healthy Eaters by Ms. Ann

PARENT HANDBOOK 2022-23

PARENT HANDBOOK