The team at Pediatric Associates of Denham Springs understands how little ones can be picky when it comes to what they like to eat. Still-developing taste buds don't always appreciate healthy foods, which can be challenging when parents want to provide proper food and nutritional guidance. Thankfully, the team of experts at this pediatric office can help create a plan that makes sense for your little one's dietary limitations as well as reduce the risk of childhood obesity.

Assess Your Child's (and Your) Eating Patterns

The first thing we'll do for you is talk with you and your child about shared eating patterns. Children typically model their eating routine and diet with their parents. So, if you don't like certain kinds of foods or skip them in your diet, your children will often do the same. Our team can help figure out ways for you to model healthy eating.

Honestly Discuss Healthy Dieting Alternatives

What can you do if your child throws a tantrum every time you try to give them healthy foods? Some parents just give up and serve them what they are asking for. Unfortunately, this can create a negative dietary pattern that can stick with a child for life and contribute to childhood obesity as well as adult obesity. Our team can help you find healthier alternatives that not only make a child happy but also replace bad foods in their diet.

Create a Dietary Plan That Works

The biggest step we can take at Pediatric Associates of Denham Springs when providing nutrition guidance for parents in Denham Springs, LA, is to create a dietary plan that works for your little ones. Often, this is the most challenging aspect of this process because finding foods that kids love can be challenging. Thankfully, we can help with the following steps:

• Find out where your child's diet is weak (likely fruits and vegetables)
• Discuss an eating plan you can use that feels right for your child 
• Integrate various surprisingly healthy foods that many kids love (i.e., baby carrots with ranch dressing)
• Adjust the plan as needed to suit your child's continual development.

This last step is particularly important because your child's body will need different nutrients at various times as they develop. In other words, we'll find healthy ways of boosting their physical and emotional strength by adjusting their diet, finding great alternatives, and fighting to keep them on track.

Get the Nutritional Help You Need

At Pediatric Associates of Denham Springs in Denham Springs, LA, our team of specialists can provide the nutritional guidance your children need to be healthy while combating childhood obesity. We know how hard it can be to get children to eat properly. That's why we've dedicated much of our practice to helping children and educating parents. Call us at (225) 665-6677.