Feeding Preschoolers: Your Questions Answered!

Sep 27, 2021

This episode kicks off our four-part age series on answering questions about feeding children at various stages of development (preschoolers, elementary schoolers, middle schoolers, and high schoolers).

In this episode, Anna Mackay, Anna Lutz, and Elizabeth Davenport discuss feeding preschoolers. They define a preschooler as a little older than 2.5 years old up until 5 years old. These are also kids who can sit at the table and eat independently. We discuss:

• Questions to consider around vegetable consumption and offer reassurance and guidance if your preschooler is not eating vegetables
• Why it is okay to serve juice and chocolate milk and in what capacity
• The importance of Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility in Feeding
• The importance of moving beyond the “here and now” with eating patterns
• How to handle if your preschooler eats more in the afternoon and does not eat much for dinner
• The developmental appropriateness of preschoolers becoming more selective with their food choices at this age 
• What to do if a preschooler’s teacher or caregiver dictate in what order they should be eating their food
• The big question of whether you should talk about sugar with your preschoolers and if sweets should be made available to a child at this age

Links

• Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility in Feeding
• Katja Rowell’s, M.D. Lunch Box Card
• Sunny Side Up Nutrition Podcast 
• Lutz, Alexander & Associates Nutrition Therapy
• Pinney Davenport Nutrition