Characteristics of the Preschooler

Feeding The Preschooler

Some Great Snack Ideas

Feed the preschooler a variety of foods using the Food Guide Pyramid as a map. Serving sizes continue to be small. Appetites continue to be variable: very hungry one day and hardly want to see food the next; this is perfectly normal. Look at his food consumption over the period of a week - it tends to even out. As with toddler feeding, be sure to continue to observe a clear "Division of Responsibility in Feeding Children".

Preschoolers continue to need snacks to get all their energy and nutrient requirements. This is a great time to get in the habit of using healthy foods as snacks and keeping the junk foods to a minimum. Don't buy foods of questionable nutritional value. Then they won't be in the house to tempt the preschooler or parent. The healthiest snacks contain foods from 2 of the 5 food groups. Meals and snacks should be planned in advance. The whole family will eat healthier! You can plan the snack and still give a toddler some choice in the matter - offer a choice of two fruits, or two different kinds of whole grain crackers.

Here Are Some Great Snack Ideas!

Breadsticks and cheese dip Dried fruit and nuts* Hard boiled egg and crackers Rice pudding Peanut butter and whole grain crackers Fresh fruit and yogurt dip Mini-bagels with cheese spread Low-sugar cereal and milk Sherbet and vanilla wafers Sliced, or cut up fresh fruit Vegetable soup Tuna salad sandwich Peanut butter and banana sandwich Apple, raisin, celery salad Fruit and Yogurt Shakes Pumpkin Bread Lentil soup Turkey pita pocket

Cottage cheese and crackers Oatmeal raisin cookies Oatmeal raisin cookies Apple slices and peanut butter Cheese toast Cinnamon applesauce toast Raw veggies and yogurt dip Popcorn* and milk English muffin pizzas Frozen yogurt and graham cracker Cantaloupe and vanilla frozen yogurt Whole-grain crackers and cheese Mixed fruit salad Egg salad sandwich Bean Burrito Carrot raisin salad Carrot Cake Ambrosia salad Raisin bran muffin Your own great Idea! * May be a choking hazard