What is likely to be most effective in encouraging children to integrate healthy eating patterns into their daily lives?

Including a variety of nutritious foods and items from all major food groups in meals is a highly effective strategy for encouraging children to integrate healthy eating patterns into their daily lives. This approach promotes a balanced diet, ensuring that children receive essential nutrients needed for their growth and development. It exposes them to different textures, flavors, and colors, which can make eating healthy more enjoyable and less restrictive.

Moreover, by including items from all major food groups, children learn about the importance of moderation and diversity in their diet, which can lead to more positive attitudes towards food and eating. This method not only fosters healthy habits but also instills the understanding that a balanced diet is important for overall well-being, helping them make healthier choices in the future.

The other options, while they may have merits, do not promote the same level of holistic understanding and practice of nutrition as the correct answer. Limiting sugar intake to one meal a day focuses on restriction rather than education and variety. Encouraging them to eat only whole foods, although beneficial, may be too limiting and could lead to resistance if children feel deprived of certain foods. Allowing them to choose their diet freely might lead to unhealthy food choices due to a lack of guidance and knowledge about nutrition.