Eat, Play, Love: Raising Healthy Eaters is a blog series by parents and dietitians whose stories and advice reminds us that we can overcome the challenges of feeding children. Subscribe to find ways to build lifelong healthy eating habits for your children.

This adage (it takes a village...) is especially true when it comes to raising healthy, well-rounded eaters. Over the last few weeks, we’ve called upon our “cyber village” to share tried and true tips that guide parents through the uncertainty of feeding their kids. Nutrition advice so often focuses on what we should not be feeding our children. All of the wonderful posts during RDChat on Twitter and the Eat, Play, Love blog carnival last week helped change the child feeding paradigm to focus on what foods kids need to eat more of and how parents can help make this happen in their own homes.

Our cyber villagers shared powerful messages that will make a lasting impact. Here is a brief summary of the key tips shared with our parent readers:

  • Choose nutrient-rich foods like whole grains, low-fat milk and milk products, fruits, vegetables, lean meats and beans.

  • Provide regular meals and snacks for your children that are balanced and represent the food groups.

  • Eat together as a family and make meal times pleasant.

  • Be a good role model by showing children your own healthy eating and positive mealtime behavior.

  • Serve low-fat milk with every meal. Milk drinking started in early childhood makes a lasting impact on long-term health.

  • Support children as they learn how to regulate their own food intake to meet their bodies’ needs.

  • Involve children in planning and preparing meals. These skills will be invaluable to them later on in life!

With your continued commitment, we will be able to help parents navigate the path to raising healthy eaters.  Let’s all continue to encourage parents to provide the much needed structure,  support  and opportunities for healthy eating. And when the going gets rough, let’s give parents permission to make mistakes, reassuring them that it’s not just about the destination but also the journey. Lastly, let’s continue to build our village, working together to share our common vision of children who not only eat well but are fulfilled inside and out!

Subscribe to our Eat, Play, Love: Raising Healthy Eaters blog series to find ways to build lifelong healthy eating habits for your children.

For more tips and information on raising healthy eaters, follow @mealsmatter and the #eatplaylove hashtag on Twitter.

Ashley Rosales, RD