Feeding your child healthy food is part of providing them with quality child care. Healthy foods give children the nutrients they need to grow, learn, and play. But, if left to choose, children will likely eat foods that are potentially less nutritious than what they need. Keep reading to get the scoop on how to get your child to eat healthy at an early age.

Prepare Meals Together

To inspire healthy eating, consider letting your child help you prepare meals. Create a nurturing environment for your child as you guide them around the kitchen. Letting your child wash produce or mix the ingredients can get them excited about the food they create. They can develop valuable life skills like following directions, working as a team, and learning to select healthy food when they’re at child care and school. They’re also more likely to eat a meal they helped make.

Take a Food Field Trip

Early childhood is about exploring and learning, so consider taking your child on a field trip to a farmers market or farm. A food field trip can be a fun way for your child to see how food grows and where their food comes from as they experience it up close. This will help them make wise food decisions as they grow up, too.

Be Creative With Food

A fun way to get your child to eat healthy is to make food appealing. Sometimes you have to cut sandwiches into star shapes or prepare strawberry and banana kabobs. You might also substitute traditional pasta noodles for zucchini noodles. Your child may not eat every healthy meal you make, but keep trying until you find food they enjoy.

Eat Healthy With Them

Set your baby up for a healthy future by offering nutritious foods at home. If your child sees that you like eating greens, chances are that they’ll have no problem eating the fruits and veggies; this will also be beneficial later when their child care provider puts healthy food on their plate while they’re in day care.

Pumpkin Preschool in Fairfield, CT, is a licensed and insured child care center and exceeds the state health regulations. Their certified teachers take the health and well-being of each child seriously. This day care center offers quality, affordable, and nurturing care for children ages six weeks to eight years old. They also offer extended hours for commuting parents as well as before- and after-school programs — plus summer camp opportunities. Visit them online to learn more and call (203) 255-7505 to schedule a visit.