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Feeding Toddlers Healthy Meals: How I Learned to Stop Worrying

October 10, 2011 by Guest Contributor

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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Children who regularly eat with their families tend to have healthier diets, are less likely to be overweight and do better in school than their peers.

Busy working mom LeAnne Ruzzamenti believes so strongly in the power of family meals her toddler twins already have a year of family meals under their belts. She encourages familes everywhere join her and Eat Better, Eat Together!

Recently the eyes of my friend’s 5-year-old daughter lit up when she overheard me remind my three-year-old twins, “You never have to eat anything you don’t want to.” Her mom quickly dashed her hopes and said, “Don’t get any ideas. I’m sure the twins eat much better than you.”

I shrugged. I’m not sure how well they eat compared to other kids. I just know that they eat a good variety of foods from everything I offer throughout the day. And I leave it at that.

Nutrition expert Ellyn Satter coined this feeding philosophy “division of responsibility,” and I follow it to the letter. The parent prepares healthy meals with nutritious foods from all five food groups – whole grains, milk, fruit, vegetables and meat or eggs – and the child chooses what they want to eat at each meal.

Of course, I encourage my toddlers to try new and different foods by preparing and eating them myself. I might suggest that my son try the green beans or lovingly remind my daughter to drink her milk, but I feel confident in stopping there.

I committed to this philosophy and having family meals as my twins turned two, and I have seen enough in the past year to know that some nights they aren’t going to touch a vegetable and the next night they’ll eat them until the serving dish is emptied.

I learned to stop worrying about what my toddlers are eating at each meal, instead directing my energy towards getting well-balanced, healthy meals on the table night after night.

Meal planning, shopping, cooking and clean-up take commitment, but it’s a labor of love. I know that my children are learning to eat the foods that I eat and love our shared mealtime. As they get older, we’ll have more opportunity to connect and share details about our days. The benefits are just beginning.

Whether you are just starting out and need motivation or could use some recipes to help you prepare balanced meals, take the Eat Better, Eat Together Pledge” from Meals Matter and learn to stop worrying and love feeding your family healthy meals.

Written by Guest Contributor, LeAnne Ruzzamenti. A marketing communications professional, LeAnne is passionate about a healthy lifestyle and hopes to instill that passion in others. She holds a master’s degree in communication studies, is a mother to toddler twins and includes red wine, dark chocolate and feta cheese among her favorite foods. She encourages familes everywhere join her and Eat Better, Eat Together! You can find LeAnne on twitter @LeAnneRuzz

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3 Comments

  1. Milk thistle says

    February 16, 2012 at 11:30 pm

    It is really important to consider that food that eat by your kids at their young age they must eat healthy foods and give them milk as their drinks.

    Reply
  2. Tiffany Youngren says

    December 7, 2011 at 12:51 pm

    So true – great article!

    We used to have a blindfolded taste test with our kids when they were little to convince my stubborn middle child to eat things he had already “decided” he didn’t like …. mostly vegetables. Now powdered vegetable supplements are a great addition to the very small range of produce he’s willing to eat.

    It’s all such a process that never seems to end – and is constantly changing. Keeps life fun!

    Reply
  3. Rebecca says

    October 15, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    It’s so important to start this process early. My 10 year old is a good eater (broccoli and cauliflower, oh my!) and offer a variety foods. These benefits will last them a lifetime and they will pass on good eating habits to their own kids!

    Reply

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