1. You decide which foods to buy and when to serve them. Adults should be in charge when deciding which foods are regularly stocked in the house. When hungry, kids will eat what's available at home. This can also give some freedom for kids to choose what they will eat.
2. Limit portion sizes. Don’t insist your child cleans the plate, and never use food as a reward or bribe. When food is used to reward kids, they may start using food to cope with stress or other emotions.
3. Variety is the recipe for health. Offer variety starting at an early age. Likes and dislikes are developed early in life. Serve new foods with favorite foods to increase acceptance.
4. Limit beverages. Soda and other sweetened drinks add extra calories and get in the way of good nutrition. Water and milk are the best drinks for kids. Juice is fine when it's 100%, but kids don't need much of it, 120 – 180 ml a day is enough for preschoolers.
5. Try to stay neutral about foods. When dessert is the prize for eating dinner, kids naturally place more value on the cake than the vegetables.
6. Be a role model and eat healthy yourself. Choose nutritious snacks, eat at the table, and don't skip breakfast.
7. Limit TV and computer time. Limiting "screen time" means you'll have more time to be active together and avoid mindless snacking.