Creative Ways To Help Your Kids Eat Right
Eating a balanced diet is essential for children who need access to the vitamins and minerals needed to promote growth. Unfortunately, getting picky eaters to consume a healthy diet isn't always easy.
If you are struggling to get your child to eat the healthy foods he or she needs, here are three suggestions you can use to make mealtimes more successful in the future.
1. Hide veggies in foods your kids already like.
When you are able to incorporate vegetables into foods that your children already like without them knowing, you will be able to increase the number of veggies that your children are consuming on a daily basis.
Since most kids love to eat mac and cheese, you can easily create a puree of carrots, cauliflower, and butternut squash to add to the cheese sauce you use when making mac and cheese for your own children. All you have to do is steam the veggies, then blend them together in a blender.
The veggies aren't visible, so your children will eat them without knowing they are there, making it easier to incorporate healthy foods into their daily diet.
2. Get your kids in the kitchen for meal prep.
Involving your children in the meal preparation process can be another great way to help them incorporate more healthy foods into their diet. Instead of feeling like you are forcing them to eat fruits and vegetables, children who are allowed to help prepare these healthy foods will feel a personal connection to their meal.
Giving your kids the chance to help slice apples or spread peanut butter into celery will make them more likely to feel excited about eating these healthy items when mealtime rolls around.
3. Be more creative with your food presentation.
Sometimes camouflaging fruits and veggies can be a simple way to get your kids to eat these healthy foods. When you get creative with the ways in which you present food to your children, they will be more focused on the aesthetics of their meal rather than the healthy components used to create the meal.
Try using cut-up fruits and veggies to create food art, and watch your children become more engaged with healthy eating.
Finding ways to help your children consume more healthy foods throughout the day is essential when it comes to maintaining their overall health. Hiding veggies in foods they enjoy, allowing them to help with meal prep, and using healthy items to create food art can be simple ways to get your kids to eat healthy in the future.
For more information on child nutrition, contact local professionals like Ada Pediatrics PA.