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Tuesday Tip for Picky Eaters: Set a good example


This week’s Tuesday Tip for Picky Eaters: Set a good example.
As parents, we are the first role models for Henry. He will learn from our example, so Daddy and I need to eat our fruits and vegetables too. I am not a big fan of mango, but I let Henry watch me eat it with a smile on my face. Then he wants to try some mango too.
Henry is more likely to eat fruits and vegetables when he sees Mommy and Daddy eat them too.
A recent study confirmed that when parents lead by example their children have a more nutritious diet. The best way to inspire healthy eating habits is to demonstrate them first-hand to your children. Another study found that when parents ate an extra serving of fruit or vegetables each day, their child ate an additional half serving.

Yes, it is important to talk with kids about food. But don’t just tell your child to eat their vegetables, let them see you eating a balanced meal that includes plenty of fruits and veggies. It may not always seem like it, but your kids are paying attention to what you eat.
Henry tries some cabbage and snow peas from my plate.
Think about what food behaviors you want to encourage in your kids, and then double-check your own habits to make sure you are modeling this behavior. For example, we want Henry to eat at least one fruit or vegetable with every meal. We make sure that Henry sees us enjoying fruits or vegetables each time we sit down to eat.
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Comments

  1. Holly @ Mama Bear BlogsAugust 22, 2012 at 5:08 AM

    I've been enjoying reading your blog for the last couple of weeks. My baby is almost 6 months and we're thinking about how we want to go about introducing solids. It's interesting to read about your experiences with Henry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownAugust 23, 2012 at 12:45 PM

      I'm so glad you are enjoying the blog. I am having fun writing it and it helps me remember to take lots of pictures of Henry.

      Starting solids can make new parents so apprehensive. Before we began, I had so many questions about how and what to do. I hope the blog helps alleviate some of your worries and makes your transition to solids a little easier. I’d love to hear back about how it goes with your baby’s introduction to solids.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousAugust 29, 2012 at 4:53 AM

    My son definitely eats more when we're eating at the same time, and eating the same thing. You're on the right track letting him choose how much to eat too- it's the only way to do it. The other path only leads to pointless frustration!

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