Better for Kids

Usda.gov: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s site offers an interactive “food pyramid” where preschoolers and older kids can figure out how many servings of fruits and vegetables they need, based on age, gender, weight, and how much running around they do. They site offers these tips for picky eaters:

- Offer new foods many times. It may take up to a dozen tries for a child to accept a new food.
- Let your kids try small portions of new foods that you enjoy. Give them a small taste at first and be patient with them.
- Be a good role model by trying new foods yourself. Describe its taste, texture and smell.
- Offer new foods first, at the beginning of a meal, when your child is the most hungry.
- Serve food plain if that is important to your preschoolers. Instead of macaroni casserole, try meatballs, pasta, and a vegetable. Try plates with sections to keep foods separate.

Here are a few more sites to check out:

Fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov: This site from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention not only discusses the health benefits of a diet with fruits and vegetables but also offers produce rich recipes.
Healthychildren.org: This site of the American Academy of Pediatrics offers advice, from portion control to tips on how to please fussy eaters. One of those tips: If your child hates green vegetables, try orange or yellow ones.
Letsmove.gov: First lady Michelle Obama has made fighting childhood obesity a cause. The site provides nutritional information, fun recipes, and tips on how to cut the grocery bill.