Making healthy food fun
Many times it is difficult to get excited about eating more healthy foods. What is even more challenging is convincing your children to do the same. Making healthy food fun is an excellent way to make living a healthy lifestyle something that the whole family can enjoy.
One of the most effective and easiest things that you can do to make eating healthy food fun is to start at a young age and to be an example to your children. We all develop a taste for the things that we eat most often. As a parent you are responsible for introducing healthy foods to your children. If they grow up eating fruits and vegetables it will be a lot easier for them to eat healthy into adulthood. Children also learn by example. You cannot expect to be a chocolate or potato chip lover and have your children not take note of your habits.
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Eating healthy can be fun! Much research has been done regarding effective methods for promoting healthy childhood eating. A few examples of these methods are listed below:
- Have regular meals together as a family. Children thrive when they have structure and a routine that they follow. Knowing that dinner is always at a certain place, at a certain time, and with certain people (all the members of the household) has been proven to provide comfort to the child, enhance appetite, and provide for an opportunity to teach and share important thoughts and emotions.
- Get your kids involved. Studies have shown that children are more likely to try something new if they were able to help in the process of making it. Allow you kids to help you do the grocery shopping. Have healthy options that your kids can choose from when they make their school lunch for the day. Preparing and cooking an evening meal together gives you as the parent the opportunity to teach your child not only the basics of cooking but how to read nutrition labels, follow instructions, handle knives safely, etc.
- Make healthy foods available and un-healthy foods unavailable. You are sure to eat better when you do not have the option to do otherwise. Having the cupboards full of healthy options will force you and your children to have healthy snacks. This is a great way to also settle your mind as you will not have to worry as much about overeating, sugar intake, etc.
- Let your kids feel empowered. Children need to feel like they have some control over what happens to them during the day. Allowing your child to spoon out his own food, choose from a list what will be prepared for dinner, or to prepare a special side dish with little help are things that will make eating healthy fun for your child. In fact, he might not even realize that he is eating nutritious foods when you make the process fun.
- Most of the healthiest foods that you can choose to eat take little or not effort to prepare. As a result, you can have fun with packing up nutritious foods and going to the park or on a picnic. Fresh fruits and vegetables are great finger foods that are easy for both you and your children to eat when you are on the go. Healthy food also gives you the stamina to spend that time that you want playing and having a good time with your children.
- Making healthy food fun does not have to take a lot of time or effort. Children need the following healthy foods:
- Whole grains (whole wheat, oats, multi-grain, rye, rice, millet, quinoa);
- Fresh fruits and vegetables;
- A source of calcium for growing bones (milk, yogurt, or substitutes if lactose intolerant);
- Healthy proteins (fish, eggs, poultry, lean meat, nuts and seeds)
That's all! And it is OK for your kids to have sweets or fast food on occasion. You do not have to convince yourself that these dietary changes must occur overnight or that your child will have immediate tooth decay if they eat a piece of candy. Relax and find joy in feeding your children foods that they will enjoy and that will help them stay healthy and happy.
