Kids and Healthy Eating Can Go Hand In Hand
There are few ways we as parents can get our children to at least try if not incorporate healthy foods into their daily diet. If they can master a cache of reasons as to why they shouldn’t at least try it we can master the weaponry it takes to turn it around. Healthy foods are important to our children and their best welfare. Here are a few ideas to stick back until needed.
Following In Your Footsteps
Children’s minds are like a piece of bread, soaking up all of the oil surrounding it. Being a role model and continually trying new foods in front of and with your child can help to shape their ideas about trying new things. It is important to let your kids see that it is ok, and even fun, to try new things from time to time. Demonstrating the adventure and intrigue of trying new foods will stick in your child’s memory for the rest of their life.
Let the Kids Help You Plan Meals
Kids are more apt to eat something they made, or at least planned to make. Letting your kids design the weekly meal, and even help cook the meals increases the chance they will try and like foods you are preparing.
Children are stimulated and become completely engrossed when they have the opportunity to get into a hands-on position. By allowing them to help plan the meals and to prepare and cook the food, children see exactly what goes in to the pot and there are fewer surprises for them. It makes it hard for them to come up with the excuse they don’t like what is in it.
Healthy Options Are Always Available
Nothing is worse than watching your kid look for a snack, finding nothing healthy and heading right for the ice cream with chocolate sauce and whip cream. Children learn from, and rely heavily on the ability to make their own decisions. This includes what clothes they want to wear to the types of foods they want to eat. It is important to offer a wide variety of choices to your kids. Just remember to respect their likes and dislikes and change the different options up frequently so they don’t get bored.
Getting our children to eat healthy foods is simple with a few tricks of the trade. Let get involved in all aspects from planning the meals, fixing the foods and choosing their own snacks. Not only will it help in getting them to eat healthy but it gives them a sense of accomplishment and pride.
One last hint, try throwing a few fruits or veggies into the blender and add a little honey. Hiding foods they don’t think they like in something they know they like is just one more weapon in your arsenal of tricks and they will never know just how healthy it really is.
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