How to instill good eating habits in your little one
Eduardo Fedriani
We all know that until around 2 years old, it’s easier to get your little one to eat what you consider best for them, but after that age, when they start going to school and interacting with other kids, it’s hard to control their attitude toward food 100%. At Smileat, we believe that nutritional education for your child is essential for a healthy life, so we want to give you some guidelines to help instill positive attitudes toward consuming healthy, additive-free foods, which will benefit them for life. 
The first thing we need to do is teach them to value food. How do we do this? By showing them from the start the variety of foods that exist; let’s not focus only on the usual “meat, potatoes, and vegetables,” as this risks making food seem boring. Another important step is for them to appreciate and get used to different textures; a raw carrot is not the same as a boiled one. The aroma and flavor are very important—let them eat with utensils and their hands when they start solids so they can fully enjoy how a food smells and tastes. Let’s not associate mealtime only with sitting at the table; there’s a whole ritual around this moment: going shopping, putting food away in the fridge, planning a weekly menu, cooking... Finally, it’s very important they know where food comes from—whether the garden, the farm, or the sea. 
Remember that children love to imitate adults, so set a good example; let them see that you eat properly and that you apply the same nutritional standards you expect from them. If they never develop bad table habits, you’ll never have to take them away. Teach them to have a good posture at the table, and to see mealtime as a family gathering. There’s no need to turn on the TV; snacking between meals will spoil their appetite. Don’t make a big deal if one day you “break” this kind of eating—birthdays or parties can be special days, and that’s perfectly fine!
The first thing we need to do is teach them to value food. How do we do this? By showing them from the start the variety of foods that exist; let’s not focus only on the usual “meat, potatoes, and vegetables,” as this risks making food seem boring. Another important step is for them to appreciate and get used to different textures; a raw carrot is not the same as a boiled one. The aroma and flavor are very important—let them eat with utensils and their hands when they start solids so they can fully enjoy how a food smells and tastes. Let’s not associate mealtime only with sitting at the table; there’s a whole ritual around this moment: going shopping, putting food away in the fridge, planning a weekly menu, cooking... Finally, it’s very important they know where food comes from—whether the garden, the farm, or the sea. Remember that children love to imitate adults, so set a good example; let them see that you eat properly and that you apply the same nutritional standards you expect from them. If they never develop bad table habits, you’ll never have to take them away. Teach them to have a good posture at the table, and to see mealtime as a family gathering. There’s no need to turn on the TV; snacking between meals will spoil their appetite. Don’t make a big deal if one day you “break” this kind of eating—birthdays or parties can be special days, and that’s perfectly fine!