2006-10-14 16:39:08 · 16 answers · asked by yvette d 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Yes. My kid learned to eat homemade food and would turn her nose up at junk food. She still won't eat at McDonalds, and she's 25!
2006-10-14 16:43:46 · answer #1 · answered by nora22000 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. This is the age when your child is developing their eating habits. Their bodies are also doing an amazing amount of growing (around 5 inches). Fast foods, junk foods, & "quick foods" are easy, but filled with so much added crap (sodium, fillers, sugars) that they aren't in the least bit healthy. I'm not saying don't ever feed them this type of food, but if it's what they learn to eat now, then it's what they'll want for the rest of their lives. Childhood obesity is an ever growing problem in the U.S. You don't want to accidentally get into the habit of feeding your child nastiness now and then have to break them of it later. Also, if you're cooking better foods for your child, the bonus is you're more likely to eat better also. It'll help you take off those last 5 pregnancy pounds. :-) Instead of snacking on some Tyson Nuggets, take a few extra minutes to toss some plain old chicken in the oven. If you need some quick meal ideas try kraftfoods.com, allrecipes.com, and foodnetwork.com. After all, who doesn't want to do what's best for their baby?
2006-10-15 01:48:01 · answer #2 · answered by Ami 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Balanced well proportioned meals. If you start teaching your child to eat right now they will do this in the future. With 3 meals a day Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. With maybe a snack of fruit for in between meals. This teaches them and there bodies that there are just certain times to eat. Therefor learning not to eat while watching TV. Or use it as a comfort .
2006-10-15 00:06:54 · answer #3 · answered by jreb 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't exactly say homemade meals are important, but you do need to know what your children are eating. I have a 3 yr old and sometimes he simply doesn't eat any food for a couple of days but will eat a ton of pickles, so i give him all the pickles he wants. When he was younger I never gave him unhealthy snacks so he doesn't eat them now but a University hospital of Cleveland Pediatrician told me to let him eat what he wants to eat. if that's pickles then so be it obesity comes from over indulgence not eating fatty things, your body, and especially a growing child's body needs some type of fat in their diet just make sure they are the right ones.
2006-10-15 04:00:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they are because commercial foods usually have far to much salt and sugar in them. It is important in the early years to offer a variety of foods for the child to taste and they should be eating a balanced diet to ensure they get enough nutrients to grow and be healthy and most importantly to learn. If a child refuses to eat something that's OK children wont starve themselves and toddlers should be having the same meals as parents in much smaller quantities. The amount of meat they need is the same as the palm of their hand- as a general rule...remember fat kids become fat adults and they are no happy chappies!
2006-10-14 23:50:27 · answer #5 · answered by Just Thinking 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes-I think that they are. Kids that age don't need TV dinners or that added junk in their food. Plus you can look at it as family time spent together. I started from day 1 with my daughter and 6 years later she loves to help in the kitchen and we have fun. She has no clue what a lunchable or any boxed food is-including mac & cheese. We make it from scratch-I work 40 hours-8-5. It can be done-granted I don't make the actual noodles. :)
2006-10-14 23:44:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes very much so. You want to start early in teaching them how to eat healthy. Also they are growing children and they do not need to be eating mcdonalds and such. Once in awhile for a treat is not bad but they should be strictly eating homemade nutritional food.
2006-10-14 23:48:11 · answer #7 · answered by butterflykisses427 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes..... And healthy foods are important also. I do not buy pre- packaged foods, and when my Lil one was just starting solids I used a food processor to make his meals, because it was fresh and there were no additives.
2006-10-14 23:51:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course they are! Not only can we, as parents, introduce our children to great tasting food, but we can also teach them from an early age about nutrition.
2006-10-14 23:49:26 · answer #9 · answered by Holly 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmmm well eating junk food certainly isnt good for them. so the only solution is home made meals.
2006-10-14 23:47:55 · answer #10 · answered by kayla a 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋