Building Healthy Eating Habits Early

Food battles are one of the most stressful parts of parenting toddlers. Here's how to build healthy habits without the drama:

Start With the Environment: • Eat together as a family when possible • Let children see you enjoying vegetables • Keep healthy snacks visible and accessible • Involve children in food preparation

The Golden Rules:

• You decide what. They decide how much. Offer nutritious options, but don't force quantities. Trust their hunger cues.

• Exposure, not pressure. It takes 10-15 exposures before a child may accept a new food. Put it on the plate without expectation.

• Make food fun. Arrange vegetables in smiley faces. Give foods silly names. Let them dip everything.

• No food as reward or punishment. 'Eat your dal to get dessert' teaches children that dal is a punishment.

• Model, model, model. Children mirror what they see. If you eat your greens happily, eventually they will too.

At Little Lumos: We introduce nutrition awareness through practical life activities — washing fruits, sorting vegetables by colour, and talking about how food helps our bodies grow strong.

Patience is the secret ingredient.