ELEMENTARY NUTRITION
Section Overview
This section discusses the recommended servings for elementary-aged children, provides information about foods to limit in your child’s diet, includes tips for getting children to try new foods, and strategies to promote healthy eating at school.
Nutrition Recommendations for Elementary-aged Children
As children reach elementary school age (between 5-10 years old) they become more independent in their food choices. They are more influenced by peers and teachers and begin to have strong opinions about food items.
It is important to provide proper nutrition for children of all ages – the foods your child eats can affect their growth & development, health, and academic success!
Feeding Tips for Elementary-aged Children
Although your child gets to choose how much they want to eat, it is your responsibility to decide what types of foods your child will eat. To avoid feeding struggles and encourage your children to eat a variety of foods, try following these tips!
- Involve children in the shopping and food preparation process
- Create a family garden! It is a fun way to engage children to eat healthy by seeing how food grows and is then used in the kitchen to create meals and snacks
- Children may be hesitant to try new foods – you may need to offer a food multiple times before your child wants to try it
- Provide a new food along with other foods your child likes
- Try not to trick, bribe or force your child to try new foods
In addition to encouraging your child to try new foods, it is important to limit:
- High-fat foods – avoid foods with more than 30% of calories from fat
- Sugary/sticky foods – can cause cavities
- candies
- jelly beans
- Sugar-sweetened beverages – provide minimal nutrients
- sweetened milks
- sports drinks
- sodas
- Caffeinated beverages – may cause restlessness and dehydration
