As Moms we often find ourselves bombarded with either frightening childhood obesity studies or complex strategies to deal with perpetually picky eaters—all focused on healthy, nutritious eating for kids. Even at our own dinner tables, we often struggle to convince our kids there’s more to dinner than plain buttered pasta and chicken fingers. And while we need to jumpstart our toddlers towards a lifetime of healthy eating, getting there can be especially tough given fussy eaters, busy schedules, older kids, after-school activities, and everything else that gets in the way.

Evenflo recognized this struggle at mealtimes and just launched a new Smart Steps line for toddlers, offering us a clever solution to foster lifelong healthy eating habits.

Two favorites: an Insulated Cup designed to help toddlers transition to drinking out of a cup thanks to the soft spout that lets them sip confidently (with no spills!), and the Portion Plate teaching kids to know portion size, eat a balanced meal with its divided colorful sections and even challenges them to explore new food in a tiny “try it for the first time” cup (two peas will do!).

Smart Steps offers insightful, educational strategies for understanding how toddlers think about food, building on core guidelines that help nurture healthy eating habits developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).   Do you have a picky eater at home?   Here are a few tips compliments of the Smart Steps website:

• Let your kids be “produce pickers” at the store.  If they can pick out their own fruits and veggies – they’ll be more inclined to eat them
• Invite your kids to prepare meals with you.  All of that mixing, mashing and measuring will make them want to taste what they are prepping.
• Try to make meals a stress-free time. Talk about fun and happy things. 
• Offer choices. Rather than ask "Do you want broccoli for dinner?" ask “Which would you like for dinner: broccoli or cauliflower?”

More Mom tips can be found on the Evenflo website. Evenflo Smart Steps is currently available to purchase at Babies R Us, Burlington and HEB and will be available in Walmart stores nationwide beginning in January 2010.

Even better, here is a special offer to purchase select Smart Steps products at Babies R Us, HEB and Burlington stores!

Click Here For Coupon

Coupon expires 12/31/09