Food Messages From The Preschooler

How I approach food...

• I can accept many foods, try others and politely refuse still others.
• I want to learn about eating and will imitate you.
• I want to discover how to eat new foods, in new places and in new ways.
• I pay attention to eating when I'm hungry, but lose interest quickly when full.
• I handle a fork and spoon pretty well and am much neater while eating.

I'm trying to grow up...

• I don't react as strongly as I used to when you try to help me with things.
• I'm excited about learning and want to be grown up, just like you.
• I can use my words to tell you what I like and don't like.
• I often know what I am feeling and will even talk about my feelings if you help me.
• I feel good about myself when I fit in with routines and help with small tasks.

What this means when you're feeding me...

• You still need to decide what foods to serve, where I eat and when I eat.
• I will decide what I will eat (of the variety of healthy foods offered) and how much.
• I still need you to sit with me and be helpful and friendly while I eat.
• I may want to try new foods, but if I don't please don't force or bribe me.  This will make me less excited about experimenting.
• If I refuse to eat what you offer please don't make a new meal.  This doesn't help me to practice my new skills of cooperating and fitting in with routines.
• I don't need big servings of food but I do need to eat often.  Let me be in control by offering small amounts and letting me decide if I need more. 
• Please help me to grow and learn by letting me help out in the kitchen.

Thanks for your support!  With your help I will learn to be a healthy eater!

Produced by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, May 2002. May be reproduced without permission provided source is acknowledged.