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Preschoolers are developing their palates. As their taste buds mature and they get exposed to more foods, their preferences will evolve. You cannot choose how they respond to a particular food, but you can ensure that they have opportunities to try nutritious foods. Your role in supporting your preschooler in eating well is to introduce them to a range of foods, model healthy eating, and foster enjoyable mealtimes.

Nutrition

Kids getting the nutrients they need is not just about growth. Eating well supplies the calories to support high physical and mental activity levels. A toddler who is well-nutrified will tend to have more energy for learning and playing. Eating well also makes for feeling well, which shapes behavior. A hungry or over-sugared preschooler is more prone to the typical toddler tantrums.

As toddlers transition to preschool, their nutritional needs may rise because they are expending more energy during the day. While the play-based learning children do in preschool is fundamental to their development (UNICEF, Learning Through Play), the increased social activity during preschool can be exhausting. So, expect a tired preschooler by dinnertime ̶ more demanding and less open to trying something new.

Modeling

Despite their resistance to  instructions, preschool-aged kids want to please their parents. So, while they’ll insist on doing things themselves, preschoolers also emulate the parent behavior. Parents have the opportunity to model eating a nutritious diet. Even if your preschooler acts fussy about foods, you should continue to offer balanced meals at regular times.

Enjoy your meals alongside your preschooler and model eating a range of foods. By serving a nutritious meal, you are managing their diet, regardless of how they respond to particular foods. Avoid preparing a different meal for your child, which can set the stage for more pickiness. Instead, try including familiar foods in every meal, as well as at least one new food.

Mealtimes

Many of us fall into the trap of nagging our children to eat certain foods, a tactic that stirs up resistance. Or we offer foods as rewards and get into a tug-of-war over how many bites a child eats. Remember that a preschooler is testing their autonomy and learning how to make their own decisions. So, resist battling over what they are eating, and instead work to make mealtimes joyful and fun.

A joyful mealtime benefits the whole family. Focus on light conversation and appreciation of the food. If your child does not eat well at a particular meal, just move on. Skipping a meal will not harm them, and in fact reflects that they are learning to make choices about whether they feel hungry or not. As kids mature into full control of their diets, paying attention to their own appetites is key to avoiding obesity.