Help Me Be Healthy: I am 2
You can trust me to eat the right amount
You decide what healthy foods to offer me. I decide which of these foods to eat, and how much.
You help me learn to love healthy food.
Offer me foods from the 5 food groups.
Offer me 3 meals and 2 or 3 snacks every day. Try to have them around the same time each day.
My tummy is still little. Start with small portions — 2 or 3 tablespoons of each food. If I am still hungry, I will let you know I want more.
Don’t worry if I don’t eat. I will eat more on some days than others.
If I won’t eat, please do not beg or force me.
Make our family meals relaxed
I like to be with you. Let’s enjoy eating together. Please turn off all our TVs and cell phones, and take away things that might distract me.
I do best when I sit to eat or drink. Put me in my highchair or booster seat at the table with our family.
I can eat most of our family foods, just like you. You don’t need to fix special meals for me.
Put a little of each food on my plate. I love my small plate, cup, fork, and spoon. They are just the right size for me.
Help me to like new foods
Keep offering me new foods along with foods I already like, but please don’t force me to eat them. It might take many tries before I taste the new food. I might even like it!
I change my mind a lot. I like a food today, but not tomorrow. I might ask for only one food. This is normal. It won’t last long.
Let me be hungry for healthy food
Do not let me have food or sweet drinks between meals and snacks.
Do not let me fill up on juice, tea, punch, soda, or even too much milk.
Give me water to drink between meals.
