What role do the parents play in developing healthy eating behaviors in their children? What role does the child play?

Answer 1

Most experts agree that parents should provide nutritious, age-appropriate foods and foster a healthy relationship between their child and food. It is the child's responsibility to determine if he or she eats and how much. In order for parents to make mealtimes pleasant and foster a healthy relationship between their child and food, they should: (1) avoid using food to control behavior, (2) model good eating habits, (3) be patient (4) Introduce new foods gradually, (5) Encourage nutritious snacking, and (6) Promote self-regulation.