Eating healthy is important and starting to teach kids when they are young can set them on the path of healthy eating throughout their lives.

Pediatric dietitian Diana Schnee states, “It’s never too soon to start teaching kids good eating habits.” Poor eating habits in childhood can follow your kids into adulthood, causing health issues and difficult relationships with food. By teaching kids about food that is good for their health when they’re little, you can set them up for a lifetime of wellness.

Here are a few things you can do to help teach your kids healthy eating habits.

One thing is to set family mealtimes. Kids thrive on routines and when dinner and snack time are set at certain times, kids are less likely to graze and overeat. Family mealtimes are a good time to teach about portion sizes and are good for social, emotional, and developmental purposes. It is also a good time to find out how everyone’s day went and talk about things.

Another thing is to embrace breakfast. It is important for everyone to start their day with the fuel they need to make it through the day especially for kids to develop and grow properly. Breakfast doesn’t have to be big and fancy, just nutritious to fuel their metabolism for the day. Something as simple as whole wheat toast with peanut butter and some fruit can be all they need.

Something you can do for picky eaters is to address it quickly. It is hard to have a child who is a picky eater, but with patience and determination, you can nip it in the bud early. Keep offering a variety of foods during meals. It can take eight to fifteen times trying something for kids to decide if they like it, so don’t give up. It is good for kids to pick from what is on their plates, even if it is only one or two things.

Also, try to involve the kids in meal planning. Kids like having a say in what they do and what they want to eat. When they participate in planning the meals and help with the shopping or cooking, they feel more invested in the foods they want to eat. Depending on the age of the child, kids can help set the table, choose what color apples to get at the store, pick the vegetables for dinner, help cook the meal, or cook the whole meal themselves.

You can also teach kids how to read nutrition labels. When you take your kids shopping you can show them different foods help them read the labels and talk to them in age-appropriate ways about what ingredients are healthy and what are not.

Another thing is to make water a priority. When kids aren’t hydrated, they can think they are hungry when they are just thirsty.

It’s also a good idea to set limits on snacks. Snacks can be healthy and needed for young kids, but we need to teach them not to snack out of boredom.

As kids get older, we can encourage mindful eating so they enjoy the experience of eating rather than rushing through it. Also, try not to insist kids clean their plates to get dessert. Kids are very good at self-regulating and will stop eating when they are full. No need to make them gorge themselves.

Related to this, rather than have “forbidden foods,” It might be better to take a balanced approach by encouraging smaller portions of certain foods and healthier treats.

Last, but not least, make small but significant swaps. Try switching French fries for apple slices when eating out, exercising for ten to fifteen minutes instead of using electronics, and drinking water or milk instead of soda. Small changes can lead to life-long healthier habits.