Children 2 to 6 year old Simple Do's and Don'ts

1. There are six major food groups, Grains, Vegetables, Fruits, Milk/Beans, and Oils. The oils are primarily given here as to the amount you must use in cooking. All food groups are a must for the healthy growth of a child. Children must eat from all the food groups, as well as a wide variety within the group. No single food meets all the nutritional requirements for a healthy body.
Breakfast and lunch should include three or more food groups other than oil.
Main meal should include at least four food groups besides the oil.
Children must intake 3 to 4 teaspoon of oil (unsaturated fats) per day. This essential nutrient is shown as an allowance for cooking.

2. Avoid foods high in salt, sugar, and trans fats.

3. Please watch your young children specially 2 to three year olds. Avoid foods that may choke your child. Examples follow:
Nuts, fresh whole grapes, fresh cherries specially with the pit, raisins, raw carrots.
Meats with small bones such as chicken breast with bones, fish with small bones
Large chunky foods such as Paneer cubes, hot dogs (frankfurters), popcorn,  large chunks of meat chicken or fish, pretzels, hard candy.

4. Limit the amount of fruit juice to a maximum half of the total fruit intake. Juices have little or no fiber.

5. Limit the amount of vegetable juice to a maximum half of the total vegetable intake. Juices have little or no fiber.

6. Avoid using trans fats. Most of the commercially available crackers, cookies and biscuits normally have trans fats. Check the label.

7. Limit the amount of refined grains use to a maximum of half the total grains intake.

8. Children ages 2 to 3 should be given whole milk, and eggs if your diet permits. Switch to low fat milks should be made after the age of 4.

9. The child might have acquired taste for curry spices during nursing if the mother had taken spicy curries at that time. If you want, this craving for curries can be quenched by adding garlic and ginger in cooking. Still, minimize use of salt.