Healthy Eating

Encouraging healthy eating and creating an environment where children have a healthy relationship with food can be challenging. As a parent, the information available can feel overwhelming but we want to simplify it and help families feel confident in their actions! 

To cultivate a healthy diet for your child, include nutrient-dense foods. These include things like proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy! Limit added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium. Providing these healthy options will help your child’s growth and development, as well as give them a foundation for what balanced eating looks and feels like. 

When trying new foods, patience is key. It may take a while for a child to adjust to a new food. Try to serve new foods alongside food your child knows and enjoys. This can help them feel more comfortable trying it! Sometimes it can take many tries before a child accepts a new food, so don’t be discouraged. 

At Play & Learn, we recognize how important nutrition is for young minds and bodies. We are currently piloting a new lunch program at a few of our centers that provides healthier options. These meals also include vegetarian choices! We have partnered with Beary Smart to provide this resource and hope to implement it across all our schools throughout the next year.  

Fostering a healthy diet for your child is an important step to supporting their well-being, but don’t forget about yourself! Eating nutrient-dense foods is important for the whole family.