A small baby can eat only what you give him, but an older child will have pronounced preferences about what he wants to eat, and the opportunity to follow them. There are likely to be more occasions when your child is eating outside the home, and while you obviously can’t account for every mouthful he eats, you should try to ensure that the good habits he has learned at home are not undermined once he starts to eat elsewhere.
If your child goes to playgroup, nursery school, or “real” school, try to make sure he has a good breakfast before he goes. If he doesn’t, he will become hungry again long before lunchtime, and both his temper and his concentration will be affected. A healthy midmorning snack like a piece of fruit or a cup of cereal will help tide him over until lunchtime. If food is going to be provided for him, try to find out what will be offered; if you are not satisfied, or if there are no arrangements to feed your child, then provide him with a nutritious packed lunch instead. Lunch need not always be sandwiches; you could give chicken pieces and potato salad, pieces of raw vegetables with a yogurt dip, or other foods that your child can eat with his fingers.
Children are often encouraged to try new foods because they see their friends eat them, and you may find once your child starts at playgroup or school that he starts to eat foods that he previously rejected at home.
