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Focus On Nutrition
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Previously Asked Questions
Question |
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Is it ok for my child to snack? I'm worried that he won't eat his regular meal.
Answer
It's true that it doesn't take much food for a child to feel full at mealtime and it may seem like he's not eating very much. That's why snacks are so important. These "mini-meals" provide up to one-fourth of a child's daily energy needs and help fill nutrient gaps. Allowing your child to eat until satiated, and not forcing him to eat at regularly scheduled times will enable him to learn to eat only when he is hungry. Conversely, it is important to maintain scheduled mealtimes to prevent the habit of eating on demand throughout the day.
Fresh fruits and vegetables and "go-together" foods such as cereal and milk, peanut butter and celery or cheese and crackers are ready-to-eat, nutrient-rich snacks. Offering milk or 100% fruit juice as a beverage in moderation instead of sodas or fruit punch is an easy way to provide nutrients that your child may not be getting at mealtime.
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