5 Tips to Get Your Kids to Eat HealthierMay 13, 2020
Getting kids interested in healthy food is a challenge! That’s why we’re sharing 5 tips to get your kids eating healthier.
We all know that good nutrition starts at a young age. But while many of us have been adjusting to new routines at home with the family – whether that’s juggling home-schooling or 24-hour daycare – finding the time to teach your kids healthy eating habits can take a back seat.
We’ve pulled together some ideas to help you find ways to encourage good eating habits and provide the healthiest food for your family. These creative tips will also help give you and your kids some fun together time at home.
Cook with Colour
Use a variety of colours when you’re preparing meals with fruits or vegetables. This is also a great way of making sure there is a healthy balance of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients on their plate. Cut vegetables into interesting shapes or make a rainbow with fruit skewers. Kids will enjoy eating different colours and learn the importance of variety. Check out our Chimichurri Chicken Bowl, which is bursting with kid-friendly colours.
Sneak in Vegetables
If you’re dealing with picky eaters, try slipping vegetables into dishes where you can. It’s normal for children to be fussy with some ingredients, so this is a great alternative to making veggie meals for kids. Mix in carrots and broccoli with pasta sauces, or roll spinach and beans into patties and meatballs. It’s not about hiding these vegetables, but it’s a transition that allows kids to appreciate healthier foods while fitting in some nutritious goodness at the same time – all in a package that they find familiar and enjoyable!
Cook as a Family
Get your kids involved with cooking meals at home so they’re more open to eating the meal. More often than not, a kid who helps make the meal with also eat that meal! Divide up tasks and make it a fun activity. This is a great way for kids to learn about what types of ingredients go into their meals, while also spending time together as a family. Let them experiment with preparing different nutritious vegetables, while discovering new textures of ingredients, before and after cooking. You’ll gain some little helpers in the kitchen and enjoy the achievement of creating your dinner together.
It’s always great for kids to have easy access to healthy snacks. We’re all guilty of snacking more than usual while at home, so this is a great tip for everyone in the household. Keep snacks like fruit, veggie sticks, home-made dips or granolas bars ready to grab in the kitchen, in places your kids can reach and know where to find them. That way you and your kids aren’t reaching for anything else.
Monkey See, Monkey Do
Kids eat healthier when they see you do the same. Kids tend to adapt to the habits of their role models, so it’s a good tip to make healthy and nutritious food a normal occurrence in your household. Check out 5 nutrient-dense dinners you can add to your dinner rotation.
Nutrition doesn’t stop at dessert. These 7 nutritious, but delicious dessert ideas are the perfect treat with a healthy twist, your whole family will love. A tad less indulgent, but equally delicious! Don’t take our word for it, give these healthy dessert ideas a whirl.