Page 198 - Nutrition Counseling and Education Skills: A Guide for Professionals

make better choices for their children.

Preschool Children, Age 2 to 5 Years

Nutrition counselors should work with parents and caregivers to influence the eating behaviors of preschool
children. The primary goal of health and nutrition education for this life span group is to promote healthy
growth and development. This is an opportunity to set the stage for future food choices and to prevent
chronic diseases of adulthood, such as obesity. Children’s food habits are learned through family food settings,
personal experiences, and education. Children of this age are just beginning to make food choices within the
controlled environment and choices of their caregivers.13

Influences on Eating Habits

Many children of this age attend day care settings that provide at least one meal per day. The content of foods
served in a day care center is a direct influence of the caregivers’ expectations. A higher level of involvement by
parents may result in a higher nutrient level of foods served. Therefore, caregivers must work together with
teachers to mutually reinforce learning about nutrition and making proper eating choices. Parents may also
want to provide their child’s teacher with information about specific dietary restrictions they impose to ensure
that the child’s diet consists of similar foods both at home and in school.14

In the preschool years, family and cultural practices are a major influence on what children eat. Young
children are unable to make informed decisions, but can vocalize their likes or dislikes. Most young children
tend to eat the same food as their parents or the types of food their parents believe are healthy. For example, if
parents routinely eat fruits and vegetables, it is more likely that their children will eat them; whereas if parents
routinely eat cake and cookies for dessert, it is more likely that their children will eat these sweets.15

The attitudes and practices of caregivers themselves also have a direct influence. For example, if a mother
believes that oatmeal is a good source of soluble fiber then her child will more likely eat oatmeal for breakfast.
On the other hand, if a mother thinks that two eggs are a healthy breakfast because they are full of protein,
then her child will more likely grow up expecting eggs for breakfast. Thus, parents, siblings, and caregivers
must explore their own nutritional beliefs and try to model and choose appropriate eating behaviors and
choices.14,15

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