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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Are your kids healthy eaters?&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;That doesn&amp;amp;#39;t necessarily mean that they eat a lot, but rather do they eat a lot of healthy foods?&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Healthy Eating&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If you have a picky eater at home, your kids may be nowhere near the healthy eating plan that the &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/food-pyramid-children-2633613&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Choose My Plate&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; guidelines recommend, including that kids, depending on their age:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;eat 1 to 2 1/2 cups of fruit each day (older kids need more)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;eat 1 to 4 cups of vegetables each day&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;drink 2 to 3 cups of milk each day (typically fat free or low fat for kids who are at least two years old)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;eat 2 to 7 ounces of low-fat or lean meat or chicken, or other foods from the Meat &amp;amp;amp; Beans food group, such as fish, beans, peas, eggs, etc.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;get half of their grains from whole grains&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Following the above healthy eating recommendations will help your kids follow a diet that has a lot of foods that are high in &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/high-fiber-foods-2633939&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fiber&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, low in fat and have &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/calcium-rich-foods-2633315&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;calcium&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/iron-rich-foods-2633935&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;iron&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and other vitamins and minerals that they need. These recommendations also help them avoid &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/high-calorie-foods-2633938&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;high-calorie&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/children-and-high-fat-foods-2633958&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;high-fat foods&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; that can lead to childhood obesity and other health problems.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Starting a Healthy Eating Plan&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;If your kids don&amp;amp;#39;t eat well, you might view the food pyramid as a goal to reach for and use this healthy eating plan to get there:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Offer your kids at least one serving of &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-a-toddler-serving-size-of-fruit-290130&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;fruit&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; each day.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Offer your kids at least one serving of &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/child-nutrition-and-vegetables-2633937&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;vegetables&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; each day.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Offer your kids at least one serving of non-fat milk (skim milk) or &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/milk-low-fat-vs-whole-milk-2633873&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;low-fat milk&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; (1% or 2% milk) each day or other &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/calcium-rich-foods-2633315&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;high-calcium food&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, like &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/cheese-nutrition-facts-2633953&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;cheese&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; made with low-fat milk.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Limit 100% fruit juice to only one serving a day.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Eat most meals at home together as a family.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Offer at least one &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/whole-grains-wheat-bread-and-whole-grain-cereals-2633950&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;12&amp;quot;&amp;gt;whole grain&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; food each day, such as whole wheat bread, oatmeal, or a whole grain breakfast cereal.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Cook foods by baking, grilling, or roasting as often as possible, instead of frying them.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Prepare and serve &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/healthy-eating-plan-for-kids-2633947&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;13&amp;quot;&amp;gt;whole foods&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; as often as possible instead of processed and packaged kids&amp;amp;#39; meals that are often high in fat, calories, and &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/foods-high-in-salt-2633919&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;14&amp;quot;&amp;gt;salt&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, and low in fiber.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Offer age-appropriate &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/portion-control-and-childhood-obesity-2633976&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;15&amp;quot;&amp;gt;portion sizes&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; when your child eats meals and snacks.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;As your kids learn to make healthy choices and start to eat better, you can then move closer to the Choose My Plate guidelines, for example, starting to offer them 1 1/2 servings of vegetables each day.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;It may take some time, but having a healthy eating plan will help move your kids away from wanting to eat chicken nuggets and french fries at every meal.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;What To Know About Healthy Eating Plans&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;To help your kids with their healthy eating plan, it may also help to:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Avoid flavorings that can make milk less healthy, keeping in mind that chocolate milk or strawberry milk flavoring will usually add more sugar and calories to your child&amp;amp;#39;s serving of &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/got-skim-milk-2634526&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;16&amp;quot;&amp;gt;milk&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Avoid serving or don&amp;amp;#39;t serve fried meats, such as chicken nuggets, corn dogs, or fish sticks, more than once a week.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Avoid serving or don&amp;amp;#39;t serve &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/children-and-high-fat-foods-2633958&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;17&amp;quot;&amp;gt;high-fat&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; meats, such as sausage, bacon, hot dogs, or bologna, more than once a week.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Don&amp;amp;#39;t give your kids drinks with a lot of added sugar, such as sweet tea, soda, or fruit punch or any fruit drinks that are less than 100% fruit juice.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Avoid eating fast food and make healthy choices when you do go out to eat at a &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/healthy-eating-plan-for-kids-2633947&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;18&amp;quot;&amp;gt;restaurant&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Avoid giving sweets on a regular basis, limiting candy, cookies and cakes to occasional treats, and offering &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/healthy-snacks-for-kids-2633920&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;19&amp;quot;&amp;gt;healthy snacks&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; in between meals and for dessert instead.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Combined with regular &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/recommendations-for-kids-physical-activity-2633546&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;20&amp;quot;&amp;gt;physical activity&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; on most days, this healthy eating plan can help your kids maintain a healthy weight or even begin to &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/weight-loss-goals-for-kids-2633982&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;21&amp;quot;&amp;gt;lose weight&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; if they are already &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/childhood-obesity-overview-2633984&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;22&amp;quot;&amp;gt;overweight&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Sources:&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Robert C. Whitaker, MD, MPH; Rachel A. Gooze, MPH; Cayce C. Hughes, MPH; Daniel M. Finkelstein, PhD, EdM. A National Survey of Obesity Prevention Practices in Head Start. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2009;163(12):1144-1150. &amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015 \u2013 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 8th Edition. December 2015. Available at http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/healthy-eating-plan-for-kids-2633947>