Tips for Healthy Eating

1. 1

   By age four, your child may have clear food preferences. These playful approaches can make trying varied nutritious foods feel more inviting.

2. 2

   Make your child a food detective. With eyes closed, smell or touch a food and guess what it is; then taste a small piece and guess again.

3. 3

   Explain benefits in simple, accurate language: “Carrots have nutrients that help our eyes,” or “Sugary foods can stick to teeth, so we brush them away.”

4. 4

   Turn the plate into a picture—a crocodile made from cucumber slices with blueberry eyes, for example—to create a playful reason to look and taste.

5. 5

   Invite your child to help with safe preparation tasks such as washing vegetables or breaking mushrooms into pieces. Handling the ingredients can build familiarity before eating.

What to notice

• Tries a healthy new food during the food game or after your invitation Health, Safety, and Nutrition
• Uses foods as parts of an animal, such as blueberries for its eyes Creativity

Tips

• Your child does not have to accept a new food the first time. Offer it again after a few days and keep the experience low-pressure.
• Model enjoyment of a variety of nutritious foods: “Wow, this spinach tastes great. I feel stronger!” Your child learns from what they see you do.

Developmental benefits

• Movement: Detective games, body stories, and playful food arrangements encourage your child to explore healthy foods they usually avoid.