Childhood obesity is on the rise, today, approximately 20% of toddlers fall into the overweight category. Most children eat at fast food restaurants, consuming fries, and hamburgers. With March approaching, which is the National Nutrition Month, what better way to start healthy eating habits with your children! Evenflo, a privately held leading manufacture of infant and juvenile products, has partnered with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, one of the country’s most respected authorities in the field of childhood nutrition, to develop Smart Steps. Smart Steps is a toddler feeding line. Smart Steps helps parents and toddlers when it comes to food portion, serving and exploring food. The Smart Steps line focuses on children ages six months and older, and toddlers ages 3-5 years. I think portion control is the number one step to eating healthier. I have been around many toddlers and have noticed the amounts of food they eat, whether it be too little, or too much. Most toddlers do not finish their meal immediately and become hungry within an hour after their dinner. At this point, parents start to give toddlers snacks. One of the best advices I could give is to leave the dinner on their plate for up to an hour, and have them to finish their meal when they become hungry again. Always offer toddlers variety, appealing food, this will make dinner time easier and fun for the parent and the toddler. I had the opportunity to try out Smart Steps toddler feeding line and I think it is one of the best products to help toddlers eat healthier. I received the Smart Starts portion plate, the Smart Steps discovery spoon, and the Smart Steps insulated cup. I tested out each products and was fully pleased with their line.

The Smart Steps portion plate shows the right portion size created from My Pyramid for your toddler. It is split into three sections, which includes, Fruits & Vegetables, Proteins, and Grains, all color coded. The second plate can be used as a snap-on lid to keep food fresh for your toddler. Included in the plates are two dipping cups, which are great for samplers. I used the two cups for new foods, I even used them for apple sauce, and spinach. I enjoyed watching the little one discover new foods and they are great for taste-testing.

The Smart Steps discovery spoon is amazing. This spoon is designed to make feeding easier for parents and for toddlers. It gives toddlers the ability to explore foods for themselves. The spoons are definitely different from any other spoon I have tried. My favorite part is they are flat, which makes it easier for removal and picking up of food. We had a few problems at first, switching the toddler from a smaller, deeper spoon, to the more shallow spoon. But, I did notice a difference in the amount of food that actually got into his mouth. I was very impressed with the durability and gentleness of this spoon. I recommend this spoon to all parents for their toddlers, it can be found at Babies “R” Us.

The Smart Steps insulated cup is 100% non-spill. This is a huge deal for toddlers. Toddlers enjoy drinking fluids, I wish I drank as much fluids as them. But, toddlers also enjoy throwing their cups around, leaving them on floors, and shaking them. The Smart Steps insulated cup is made with a valve incorporated into the spout. Therefore, the toddler will need to squeeze the spout in order to release the fluid. Not only are these cups easy to wash and spill proof, but they are colorful and designed with a neoprene sleeve. This sleeve keeps the drinks warm, or cold longer.

I encourage parents to take a pledge during March to teach your toddler healthier eating habits. The healthier you eat, the healthier your child will eat! I fully recommend the Smart Steps toddler line in order to help promote healthier eating. Always have family dinners at the table, with no T.V., and always introduce new foods to your toddler. With the portion plate, you will be able to know what to feed your toddler for dinner and how much is needed to keep him/her healthy! Take a stand this March, make a difference in your household, spread the word to let others be aware of the obesity rise in childhood! Check out Evenflo’s website for more tips on keeping your toddler healthier and to check out their products!