Good eating habits begin early in your child’s life. As
early as infancy, you can help your child grow lifelong
healthy eating habits. You are your child’s best role
model so while you help her to eat healthy, try to do
the same too!
Healthy Feeding and Eating
For Your Infant
• It is important to breastfeed for at least 6 months.
She will be more likely to have a healthy weight as
she gets older.
• Put breast milk or formula, not cereal, in your baby’s
bottle. Cereal adds extra calories that she doesn’t
need.
• Try to wait until your baby is around 6 months to start
healthy solid foods like pureed vegetables, jarred
baby foods, and infant cereals. Starting solid foods
too early can lead to problems with overweight and
obesity later.
• Around 8 or 9 months try offering your baby small
amounts of healthy finger foods like grilled chicken,
cooked carrots, and cut up strawberries. This will
help your baby learn to eat healthy.
• Breast milk, formula, and water are the best drink
choices for your baby. Soda pop, 100% fruit juice,
and sport drinks add extra calories to her diet and
can harm her new teeth.
For Your Toddler
• Offer your toddler healthy snacks like small cubes of
cheese, sliced banana, or whole grain crackers two
to three times per day. This will help him stay full in
between meals and reduce hunger-related temper
tantrums.
• Try to be patient with picky eaters. He may need to
try a food 10 to 15 times over several months before
he will eat it.
• Try giving your toddler a choice between two healthy
options. He will be more likely to eat healthy food if
he picks it out.
• Milk and water are the healthiest drink choices for
your toddler. Soda pop, 100% fruit juice, and sport
drinks add extra calories to his diet and can harm
his teeth.
For Your Preschooler
• Let your child help you in making healthy meals and
snacks. She will be more likely to try healthy foods if
she helps out.
• Try to keep your kitchen stocked with simple,
healthy snacks like carrots, sliced apples and peanut
butter, or string cheese. This will help you and your
preschooler eat healthy, even on busy days.
• Milk and water are the healthiest drink choices for
your preschooler. Soda pop, 100% fruit juice, and
sport drinks add extra calories to her diet and can
harm her teeth.
For Yourself and Family
• Your child is learning healthy
habits by watching you. Try to
eat healthy too.
• Set playtime, mealtime, and
bedtime routines to make
day-to-day life less stressful.
• Talk with your child’s doctor,
Head Start staff, and other
parents to get healthy
eating tips.