The most successful approach to childhood feeding is to think about distinct roles for the adults and children and stick to those roles. Divvy things up as follows:

That’s it! As the parent, you put the food on the table at a given time and just… let go. What you’ll find is:

• Kids are good at self-regulating
• The more pressure you put on them to eat, the more likely they are to get out of tune with their own bodies and needs*
• These roles remove common pressures faced by kids and adults at mealtime
• This approach creates the foundation for a healthy relationship with food

Just as kids learn science and math, it is a process for them to discover the eating approach that is right for them. Rather than attempting to get your child to eat a certain type or amount of food, consider the following:

Goals to support your child’s development:

1. Provide a consistent, supportive environment
2. Create a space where kids can explore without pressure
3. Raise intuitive eaters with healthy eating habits

It is the parent’s job to decide what the kids eat.

You are in the driver’s seat when it comes to what food is in the house and what ultimately makes it to the table. To get started with establishing a supportive food environment, check out:

• Healthy Eating Guidelines for an overview of foods that support good health
• Stock for Success so you have nourishing foods on hand
• Balanced Meals pages for guidance and inspiration on what to feed your kids

Increase Enjoyment and Decrease Stress at Mealtime
Remove the pressure knowing that you aren’t responsible for getting a child to eat specific foods or to eat at all. Children can learn to trust that parents will provide nourishing food consistently while learning to trust their ability to understand their own body cues.