Top 10 Ways to Get Your Children to Eat Better

For mothers day my mom got me a cookbook titled, "The Little Big Cookbooks for Moms", by Alice Wong and Natasha Fried. I love when cookbooks aren't just cookbooks. This little book is jam packed with ways to create a healthier lifestyle for your fam jam!

 

 

 I always offer my 2.5 year old what we are eating for dinner. He almost never eats it but at least I tried. I then give him a peanut butter sandwich or yogurt and fruit...something along those lines. Nothing too crazy. He does love fruit and broccoli and edamame (lol!) and his diet is pretty well rounded (except for when we have ice pops in the freezer...which is why I keep putting off buying them..the boy is addicted). So I try not to make a big deal out of dinner, even though I do catch myself getting frustrated sometimes. I read awhile ago that there is no point to this. Toddlers need very little to begin with and usually this is just a phase. And I feel better at least knowing I offered it to him. Plus he has waaaay better things to do like be a dinosaur and play cars.

 

 

My daughter who just turned one is getting less picky. Its really trial and error with her! She likes bananas, Cheerios, Sprout organic pouches, yogurt to name a few. And she recently went to town on black beans and avocado!

 

 

Anyway, so I was excited when I came across the Top 10 Ways to Get Your Child to Eat Better in this little book! And here I am to share them with you!

 

1. TAKE TIME TO INTRODUCE NEW FOODS: Children's taste buds aren't always ready for new flavors or textures. Be patient if your son or daughter shows resistance to trying new foods. Introduce a new food again at a later date or sneak it into a dish that you know they already love. Of course, revealing that a favorite relative, celebrity, or her likes spinach can work wonders to get your tot to try it. (Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld teaches you how to make fruit and veggie purees and then use them in her recipes!)

 

2. BREAK THAT FAST: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day- make it count. You can prepare whole-grain waffles on the weekend and freeze them for the coming week. Pop them in the toaster oven in the mornings and top with fresh fruit, yogurt, and honey for a quick, delicious, nutritious way to start the day.

(You can also batch cook oatmeal and have them put their own toppings on it. Or cook it in the crock pot overnight!)

 

 

 

3. PLAN AHEAD: Keep your pantry packed with basic staples that make it easy to whip up nutritious meals. Think about variations on whole-grain pasta, bread, or brown rice; sauteed, steamed or fresh vegetables; and a protein source such as tofu, poultry, meal, fish, cheese, or beans. Casseroles, stews, and chili are also easy ways to serve a balanced meal in a single dish.

(I LOVE the crock pot!)

 

4. ENCOURAGE YOUNG COOKS: As your children grow, encourage them to participate in shopping for, preparing, and creating meals. When kids can be creative in the kitchen, they'll naturally show more interest in what they're eating.

 

5. DRESS IT UP: If your children aren't excited about fruits and vegetables, try creative sauces, hummus and salsas. Blend plain greek yogurt with seasonings for dipping vegetables or fruit. Try salad dressings on raw veggies. Make smoothies or blended fruits.

(if nothing else my kids love a little  Shakeology!)

 

 

 

6. PACK A PICNIC: If you know that you'll be spending a fair amount of time driving the kids to and from school and extracurricular activities, maintain a cooler in the car to keep the munchies (and grumpies) at bay. Stock it with fresh-chopped veggies, nuts, granola, yogurt, water, apples, and bananas.

 

 

 

7. DON'T MAKE A FUSS: Try to resist making comments on what or how much your children are eating. As long as you are doing your part to serve them balanced and nutritious meals, the rest is up to the kids. Telling them to finish every bite of their dinner may end up creating resistance rather than compliance.

 

 

 

8. CREATE SIMPLE, FLEXIBLE MENUS: Don't get trapped into making separate meals for all the members of your family. Plan menus that you can serve family style, and allow your children to choose what they want to eat. Eventually, they may follow your example to sample everything.

 

9. HAVE A HEALTHY ATTITUDE: Your approach to diet, health, exercise, and lifestyle sets an example for your children. If you skip meals or make unbalanced choices, your kids may think that's okay for them, too. By listening to your body to tell you when you're full or hungry, your children will learn to do the same.

 

his face in this cracks me up everytime!

 

 

10. MAKE FOOD TIME A FUN TIME: Get creative in the kitchen. You can turn a morning of pancakes into a smiley-face contest. Cut and arrange sandwiches to represent different animals. Make a meal of just mini foods or try serving "breakfast" for dinner. And take on ideas from your kids- your enthusiasm will be infectious.

(if you can figure out how to make pancake animals, let me know! haha)

 

What kind of tips do you have?

 

XO-SP