Asking your children to describe the appearance, texture, taste and smell of the food can be a fun way to build their vocabulary. Valley News/Courtesy photo
Family FeaturesSpecial to Valley NewsDaily food choices can have an impact on a child’s overall health and well-being. Not only do healthy dietary patterns help maintain good health, they also reduce the risk of chronic diseases throughout all stages of their life.The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, and nutrition experts agreed it is vital to establish healthy eating habits early and maintain them throughout childhood.“Research shows toddlers who eat a wide variety of foods are more likely to carry those habits into adulthood, so it’s important to introduce and reinforce healthy eating habits from the time a child starts to eat solid foods,” Courtney Hines, KinderCare Learning Centers’ registered dietitian, said. “
