The amount of food a child eats will vary from day to day and meal to meal. It’s normal for a child to eat very well one day, and very little the next. After the first year of life, growth slows down and your child may eat less food. Remember, a relaxed approach to food is the best way to cope with your child’s eating behaviours. Follow the recommendations in Canada’s Food Guide for the types and amounts of food to serve your child. www.healthcanada.gc.ca/foodguide
Strategies to help:
- Feed your child at regularly scheduled meal and snack times (no "grazing" in between).
- Limit juice and milk between meals; offer water for thirst instead.
- Keep portion sizes small. Offer more if they are still hungry after finishing.
- Provide healthy foods and let your child decide whether to eat and how much.
- Trust your child to know how much to eat.
- Children may need to see a new food 15-20 times before they will try it.
- Don’t force or bribe your child to eat. Never use food as a reward or punishment.
- Eat together as a family and model healthy eating.
- Vitamin supplements are usually not necessary, even for picky eaters.
Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide(Number of Canada’s Food Guide Servings per day):
|
Food Group
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2-3 years
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4-6 years
|
|
Vegetables and Fruit
|
4
|
5
|
|
Grain Products
|
3
|
4
|
|
Milk and Alternatives
|
2
|
2
|
|
Meat and Alternatives
|
1
|
1
|
One Food Guide Serving can be divided into smaller amounts and served throughout the day. Refer to Canada’s Food Guide for the size of a Food Guide Serving. www.healthcanada.gc.ca/foodguide
For more information: EatRight Ontario: www.eatrightontario.ca or call 1-877-510-5102
Health Start for Life: www.dietitians.ca/healthystart
Constipation
Bowel habits are different for every child. Some children go twice a day; others go only once every four days. Both are perfectly normal. Infrequent bowel movements alone are not a sign of constipation; it may just be your child’s normal pattern. If you child has painful bowel movements that are hard, dry, pebble-like and difficult to pass, your child may be constipated. If you have questions or concerns about your child being constipated call your health care provider.
Remember: Do not give your baby or child laxatives, enemas, suppositories, or any medications without talking to the doctor first. These may make constipation worse in the long run.
Compliments of the Region of Waterloo Public Health, 2009
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