Basic tips for healthy eating | Patient and Family Education | UC Davis Children Hospital

Think about which tips will work best for you and your family:

• Eat breakfast every day and do not skip meals. Skipping meals may lead to extreme hunger, over-eating, and poor food choices.
• Include at least 1 fruit or vegetable at every snack and meal.
• Drink nonfat or 1% milk with meals and water with snacks. Avoid sugar-sweetened drinks including fruit juices, fruit punch, sports drinks, energy drinks, and sodas.
• Choose one place in the house for eating, such as the kitchen table.
• Never eat straight from the bag or box! Serve a small helping in a small bowl or plate to help reduce portion sizes, especially for snack foods.
• Reduce fast food and restaurant meals.
• Do not keep problem foods around the house (a problem food is one that you are likely to eat too much of or too often if it is available).
• Keep healthy snacks readily available so that you can grab and go.
• Plan ahead for meals and snacks. Cook large meals on the weekends and keep leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer to use for quick meals during the week.
• At restaurants, share your meal or take half home. Restaurant portions are usually much too big, especially for kids!