Learning Good Eating Habits Early Leads to Lifelong Health and Wellness Meals Matter Website Helps Families Raise Preschoolers to Be Healthy Eaters

(PRNewswire/MS) - Children between 2 and 5 years old experience developmental changes that affect their eating habits, and by anticipating and appropriately reacting to these changes, families can help turn their preschoolers into healthy eaters for life.

According to Monica Montes, a Los Angeles-area registered dietitian and co-founder of N.E.W. Health Consultants, Inc, eating habits form as early as age 3, making the preschool years an important developmental window. At the same time, parents may face difficult changes in their children's food preferences.

"Feeding obstacles often start as children reach 2 years old and continue for several years," said Montes. "Children may eat less, demand foods they see on television, refuse foods or beverages they once enjoyed and start using utensils or sippy cups."

Montes offers the following tips so that families - parents, grandparents and others present at mealtimes - can prepare for these changes and respond appropriately.

· Gradually introduce new foods one at a time, realizing that it can take up to 15 tries before the child accepts it.

· Try to add just one new food to a meal with three or so healthy foods your child already enjoys.

· Be sure to include new foods on your own plate.

· Offer nutrient-rich foods from all the food groups, including low-fat milk, vegetables, whole-grains and fruits.

· Trust your preschooler's stomach; they will naturally regulate the amount they eat.

· Eat meals together as a family to model healthy habits.

To help families, Meals Matter, www.mealsmatter.org, a nutrition Web site developed by registered dietitians at Dairy Council of California, offers an informational series in English and Spanish specifically for families with preschool-aged children, including:

· A chart of common eating patterns and nutritional needs at different stages of growth;

· Downloadable tip sheets with tools for fostering healthy eating habits; and

· Nutritious, kid-friendly recipes, such as Mexican Tostadas and Dunkin' Vegetables.

"There are many things that families can do to help children develop good eating habits, but being prepared and staying patient is key," said Montes. "By staying positive, being consistent and providing a comfortable and calm environment for your child to eat, you will be on your way to raising a healthy eater."

Meals Matter provides busy families with nutrition information, delicious recipes and a variety of interactive meal-planning tools.

Dairy Council of California develops nutrition education programs that promote making healthy choices from all the food groups and regular physical activity. For more information, please visit www.mealsmatter.org or www.dairycouncilofca.org. Healthy Eating Made Easier.

Keywords: eating habits wellness meals preschoolers healthy eaters parents feeding obstacles children

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Deadline For Preschool Adds to the Pressures of Potty Training

(MS) - Summer is crunch time for millions of parents whose toddlers must be potty-trained before they can be admitted to preschool programs in the fall. In the U.S., there are about 20 million parents with children under the age of 4, and more than 4 million of those children are enrolled in nursery or kindergarten programs where children are not permitted to move up to preschool until they are potty-trained.

Combine that with the fact that, according to the Children's Hospital Guide to Your Child's Health and Development, 40 percent of 3-year-olds still use diapers, and the rush is on. But how can you tell whether a child is ready? Here are 5 signs provided by Teri Crane, (www.thepottypro.com), best selling author of Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day: Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro.

· He's/She's interested in trying to do things "by him or herself."

· He/She understands the meanings of using the potty and no more diapers and can discuss the subject.

· His/Her diaper is staying dry for longer.

· He/She frequently wakes up with a dry diaper.

· He/She stops playing to squat for a bowel movement

When you've determined that a child is ready for potty training, you can do it in a single day. Crane, who has developed the "One-Day Potty-Training Party" and taught the method to parents in her Potty-Training Boot Camp, offers these party guidelines:

STEP ONE: Give your child a new doll (preferably one that "wets"), Crane recommends Paul and Emma by Corolle (www.corolle.com), and have a two-person party (just you and your child) that entails playing games, reading books, and "potty training" the doll.

STEP TWO: Shift the focus to potty-training your child. Reward your child for his or her success.

STEP THREE: To celebrate your child's success, the party expands to include his or her other parent, siblings, grandparents and other close relatives, all of whom offer their congratulations.
The method has been tested and approved by pediatricians and parents alike, Crane attests. Dr. Phil says, "A potty party is the way to get your child to go, literally!" At the end of the day, your child is potty trained for preschool and has a new best friend in their Paul or Emma potty training doll.

CAPTION: Teri Crane, "The Potty Pro," recommends Paul and Emma dolls by Corolle when potty-training your child.

Keywords:
preschool potty training summer parents toddlers preschool programs chidren kindergarten potty pro potty-training boot camp potty-training party child

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