Parent to Parent: Nutrition

WSVN--Two-and-a-half year old Jacob Kustin is a big eater...Except when it comes to eating his veggies.

Parent Kirsten Kustin: "As far as anything resembling what came strait from the fields or a farm he just wouldn't go for that.

I was frustrated I was feeling like he was not getting the right nutrition."

So how can a parent get their child to eat everything on their plate, including green leafy vegetables? Dr. Sally says your child's tastebuds develop at birth...So the foods you feed them in the early years will influence them forever.

Kirsten Kustin: "In the first five years it's really important not to introduce white flours or white sugars, these are tastes that will build up for your child and influence him for the rest of his life."

Okay, so you're too late...Your kids are already hooked on chips and cookies, now what do you do? Dr. Sally suggests explaining to your child that food is the body's fuel. Then let them choose foods that are the colors of the rainbow.

7 Parenting Expert Dr. Sally Goldberg: "Set up a little rainbow, children love the colors of the rainbow, then on the rainbow you put all the different fruits and vegetables that come in each of those colors. The rainbow coincides with the Department of Agriculture's food pyramid."

Make sure to keep track of your child's healthy eating in a daily food diary. If the rainbow doesn't work, try involving your child in making the meal, grocery shopping, even setting the table. Then while you're cooking, taste test different flavors. And make sure your refrigerator is stocked with good food not junk food. Dr. Sally also recommends serving your child the same food you eat and making sure to eat it, family style.

Dr. Sally Goldberg: "It means having serving dishes on your table, where each member of your family goes around and serves himself from those dishes. But parents don't dispair."

Dr. Sally Goldberg: "Healthy eating is really a teaching process. It's not something that's going to happen overnight, there's going to be resistance to change in many many ways."

Kirsten's seeing a change in the food choices Jacob's making.

Kirsten Kustin: "The colors of the rainbow, the family style serving, he really likes that. He's in charge. And then I don't have to battle to get him to finish what's on his plate."

And who wouldn't toast to that! Make sure you set up planned meal times, include three meals and two snacks a day.

E-MAIL QUESTIONS TO:
parent@wsvn.com

DR. SALLY GOLDBERG'S WEBSITE:
www.drsallyparenting.com