Pediatric Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove
Garden City:516-222-5100
Glen Cove: 516-759-7000
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| © istockphoto/matka_Wariatka |
Is your child a notoriously
picky eater? Many parents know that it
isn’t always easy to get kids to eat healthy.
However, a healthy diet is one of the best ways to keep your smile
cavity-free! Here are a few tips and
substitutions for kids who avoid healthy foods.
Food Substitutions For..
- Fruit –
- Fresh fruit - If your child won’t eat fresh fruits, try dried fruits such as apricots, pears, raisins, cherries, mangos, pineapples and bananas.
- Whole fruit – If whole fruit is the problem, you can make pureed sauces for yogurt with fresh or frozen fruit. Then, slowly introduce whole fruit into the mix.
- Citrus – Does your child dislike citrus fruits? Strawberries, cantaloupe, broccoli, watermelon, and even potatoes are great sources of vitamin C.
- Alternatives - You can also try mixing fruits such as blueberries, chopped apples, and bananas in muffin, quick bread, and waffle batters.
- Vegetables –
- Green Leafy Vegetables - It’s common for kids to avoid green leafy vegetables. Try dark-yellow and orange vegetables instead. Carrots, squash and sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin A.
- Cooked Vegetables - Try raw vegetable sticks and salads. You can also offer vegetable juice instead of fruit juice.
- Dairy – If your child doesn’t like cheese, yogurt, and other dairy foods, consider soy and rice-based substitutes. You can also ask your pediatrician about taking vitamin B12 and D supplements.
- Whole-Grain Breads – Try high-fiber white bread, whole wheat crackers or whole wheat pasta.
Contact Pediatric
Dentistry of Garden City & Glen Cove for more smile care tips! Call
516-222-5100 to contact our Garden City office or 516-759-7000 to contact our
Glen Cove office.
