When you are an “on-the-go” parent, it’s not always easy to plan your child’s meals in advance, worry about what is age appropriate and focus on what food will offer the best nutritional value. While your child’s pediatrician is one of the best resources, many parenting sites can also offer advice, budget friendly menus, recipes and more. What’s important to keep in mind is that the eating habits you set early on pave the groundwork for the future health of your child.
Plan Ahead
The days seem to fly by, especially for working parents of young children. Meal planning can be a critical component in not only saving time and money, but also ensuring that the nutritional needs of your child are met. By taking an hour on the weekend to decide what groceries you need and what meals you will make during the week can help to ease the pressure and help make cooking dinner less stressful. All of those steps help to remove the temptation to grab fast food which offers little or no nutritional value.
Keep Nutritional Snacks Handy
There are often times when you can find yourself in a situation where you are out, your child is hungry and the easy thing to do is grab a cookie or bag of chips. There are a bevy of non-perishable snacks that you can purchase to keep in your purse, diaper bag or even your car to have at the ready. Food pouches are popular with young children and they are available with fruits, vegetables and even protein. The best part is that they are not required to be refrigerated, which makes them easy to store in a variety of places.
Don’t Forget to Explore
Developmentally it’s important for children to explore tastes and textures so they can start to form their own palette. Variety is key, so try and be adventurous with what you offer your child, but always be sure to consult with your pediatrician before offering new foods.
Harbor Child Care keeps all of the above in mind when planning feeding and mealtimes. They work closely with parents to ensure that a child’s daily nutritional needs are met, and are always available to help parents navigate the challenges of developing a health eater! Contact us today to learn more about the special people who help all of our students grow and learn.
