8 WAYS TO A CHILD’S STOMACH
Have fruits and vegetables in kids’ view on the counter or in the fridge; pre-cut them to make it easier to grab and go.
Ask kids to help choose different vegetables and fruits for mealtime.
Get kids involved in washing, chopping, and cooking fruits and vegetables. They’ll love to eat what they prepare.
Offer fruit or vegetable options at every meal.
Be creative: Add fruits and vegetables to pancakes, cereal, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta, tacos, and sandwiches.
Offer new fruits and vegetables and old favorites together. It can take several tries before kids accept a new food, so if they don’t like it the first time, try it again soon.
Kids should decide if they’re hungry, what they will eat from the foods served, and when they’re full.
Parents control which foods are available to the child.
HERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW
A predictable schedule of meals and snacks is a good thing. It’s OK to choose not to eat when both parents and kids know when to expect the next meal or snack.
Don’t force kids to clean their plates. Doing so teaches kids to override feelings of fullness.
Don’t bribe or reward kids with food. Avoid using dessert as the prize for eating the meal.
Don’t use food as a way of showing love. When you want to show love, give kids a hug, some of your time, or praise — not food.
GET KIDS INVOLVED
Most kids will enjoy deciding what to make for dinner. Talk to them about making choices and planning a balanced meal. Some might even want to help shop for ingredients and prepare the meal. At the store, teach kids to check out food labels to begin understanding what to look for.
In the kitchen, select age-appropriate tasks so kids can play a part without getting injured or feeling overwhelmed. And at the end of the meal, don’t forget to praise the chef.
School lunches can be another learning lesson for kids. More important, if you can get them thinking about what they eat for lunch, you might be able to help them make positive changes. Brainstorm about what kinds of foods they’d like for lunch or go to the grocery store to shop together for healthy, packable foods.
Getting kids involved can help prepare them to make good decisions on their own about the foods they want to eat. That’s not to say they’ll suddenly want a salad instead of fast food, but the mealtime habits you help create now can lead to a lifetime of healthier choices.
Help your children make the right food choices. Encourage them to choose healthy food instead of fast food. They will lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle