Simple tips for healthy eating

Sometimes it can be hard to find ways to fit healthy eating into our busy schedules. Here are a few simple tips that can help your family find ways to eat healthier.

Buy frozen, dried, and canned fruits and vegetables so you always have some on hand. Look for products without added sugar. When choosing canned options look for fruit canned in 100% juice or water and vegetables canned without salt.

Vegetables can be cooked in the microwave to save time.

Wash and cut up fruit and veggies when you get home from the store. Having them ready to eat in the refrigerator makes them more appealing to grab as a snack.

Try keeping a bowl of whole fruit like apples on the counter. This not only keeps fruits available for snacking, but also serves as a reminder to eat fruit.

Substitute whole grain bread, pasta, rice, crackers, and other options into your favorite recipes. Look for the word “whole” on the label; “multigrain” and “wheat” products are often not made with whole grains. Other whole grain ingredients include brown rice, graham flour, and oatmeal.

It’s not necessary to completely cut out sweets and other unhealthy foods. Try having smaller portions of these foods and eating them less often.

Choose water as a drink option more often. Sweetened drinks like soda and fruit flavored drinks have a lot of calories in them but they don’t provide any nutrients. 100% fruit juice is a better option, but limit it to about 1 serving (4-6 ounces) per day for preschoolers. Low fat (1%) or fat free milk is another good choice; preschoolers should drink about 2 cups of milk a day, and not more than 3 cups. Remember that children under 1 year should drink breast milk or infant formula and children 1-2 years should drink whole milk.

Don’t push your child to finish everything on his or her plate. Help children to recognize when they are hungry and full and to stop eating when they feel full.