Children are known for their sweet tooth and picky eating. Whether it’s chicken tenders, pizza, fries, or some fruit here and there, they mostly have an affinity for wanting unhealthy options. Even though kids love junk food, as a parent, you know this is something that should only be given to them from time to time. But it’s not only about telling your children “no,” but it’s also about getting them to learn and make smarter decisions on what they eat and crave. So, here are some ways to teach your children about healthy eating.
Avoid Putting Them on Restrictive Diets
They don’t work with adults, so they’re certainly not going to work for children either. As a parent, you’re also going to want to make sure to eat well in front of them, as they tend to follow your lead. Keep healthy snacks at home, such as fruits and vegetables, to fill in between meals. Limit sugary drinks and serve water and low-fat milk instead. Having options is fine, but you don’t want to take everything away from them, and as a parent, you’re going to want to be a great example of this too.
Eat a Rainbow of Foods
Children love colors; usually, the more vibrant, the better! Make sure they are exposed to a variety of foods early on and keep healthy snacks, like fresh fruit and low-fat frozen yogurt, handy for when they get hungry between meals. When shopping, take kids and let them pick out their own products so they feel involved. Try to sneak vegetables into other foods, such as shredded carrots into stews and casseroles or grated zucchini or apple into muffins. But you can even be upfront and have the best kale salad recipe for them to try.
Avoid Giving them Unhealthy Snacks
Snacks have a way of making cooking a lot easier because you’re not snacking while cooking; they hold you over. However, when you think of snacks, what instantly comes to your mind? Do you instantly think about chips and cookies? For a lot of people, that’s the stereotypical snack. So if you want to teach your kids about healthy eating so they can choose healthy options, then you need to give them healthy snacks to eat.
Eating healthy snacks is important for kids because it can help them meet their calorie and nutrient needs between meals. However, many unhealthy snacks contain a lot of sugar, fat, and salt. These foods can make you feel sluggish and can cause blood sugar to spike and drop, which can cause hunger cravings later. Try to keep wholesome snacks on hand, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy. Make these foods appealing to kids by cutting their food into fun shapes or creating a snack collage (broccoli florets for trees, for example).
Try Online Content
Alternatively, you can try content nearly anywhere, but if you want them to eat healthily, it may be as simple as getting them to watch shows, a book, or even a YouTube video that just talks about it. Why? Well, kids are very impressionable, and sometimes the entertainment and the visual aspect help. If their favorite TV character is boasting about healthy eating, then it may help leave a good impression.
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