Last Reviewed: April 2011
Nutrition
Feeding preschoolers - age 3 to 6 years
Feeding preschoolers can be fun because they:
- Want to learn and get better at everything, including eating.
- Are more willing to try new foods than they were when toddlers.
- Copy their parents so they’re more likely to try foods that they see their parents eat and enjoy.
- Like to make their parents happy.
- Might ask for foods they see on TV or at a friend’s home but will probably understand if you say “no”.
At this age preschoolers are able to:
- Use a fork and spoon, but will still use fingers to eat or to push food onto a spoon.
- Pour milk, water, or juice from a small container into a cup.
- Start learning table manners, like serving themselves, sharing, or refusing food nicely.
You and your child each have a job to do!
Your job:
- Plan and make a healthy menu
- Offer meals and snacks at regular times
- Eat family meals together and make them pleasant
- Allow your child to serve himself and decide how much to put on his plate
- Let your child eat as little or as much as he wants
- Provide child-sized forks and spoons so your child can successfully feed himself
- Your child is watching and learning from you! Show your child you enjoy healthy mealtimes!
When parents do their job, it's easier for children to develop healthy eating habits.
Your child's job:
- Decide if he will eat
- Decide how much he will eat.
- Feed himself - he will get better at this with practice
Serving Sizes
Preschoolers have small stomachs so they may only eat about 1/4 to 1/2 of what you might eat at a meal. Help your child learn about how much to put on his plate by allowing him to serve himself.
Children eat better when there is no pressure from parents. Sometimes they don’t want to eat at all. Don't worry if your child misses a meal, she can make up for it next time.
Are You Looking for Child-Friendly Recipes?
When it comes to feeding your children, your goal as a parent is to raise healthy kids who enjoy eating.
Children love being in the kitchen with you and working with food. Let them help you prepare for mealtimes.
When children are young, find tasks that are easy and safe for them (such as putting paper napkins on the table). As children get older, they can become more and more helpful.
The Cooking Up Some Fun (1.69 MB, 30 pages) site will provide you with recipes you and your child can prepare together.
For more information:
Region of Peel - Public Health
905-799-7700
Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
to speak with a Public Health Nurse
Caledon residents call free of charge at 905-584-2216
Other Resources
Feeding your toddler - age 18 to 36 months
