Healthy eating tips for kids
Kids can be fussy little creatures. I’m not a parent yet, but I’ve spent enough time with my pint-sized relatives to know that if you try feed a child watermelon when all they want are gummi bears, you’ll be about as successful as if you spent your day banging your head against a wall.
So here are some things you can try to help your (or your friend’s/relative’s/boss’) kids eat healthily:
1) Be a good role model.
Whether you’re aware of it or not, your child is learning their behavior from you. So if you’re eating hot chips, drinking sugar-filled soft drinks, and living an unhealthy lifestyle, they’ll think that’s the status quo. If you eat healthy, well-balanced meals, they’ll be more likely to follow suit.”¨
2) Get creative with healthy snacks.
Your child may not be so receptive to a snack of carrot sticks or cauliflower, but if you add a salad dressing, a yoghurt, or a dipping sauce into the mix, they’re more likely to dig in and enjoy the healthy treat. Peanut butter is a great option for this.
3) Trick them into eating vegetables.
It seems sneaky, but tricking them into eating veggies is for the greater good. Make them mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potato (it tastes just as delicious, if not more!), or sneak some zucchini into their weekend pancakes.Ӭ
4) Make sure they’re active.
Exercising and being active is an important part of maintaining your child’s health. Whether you encourage outdoor games (such as skipping or even hopscotch), or team sports, make sure your child gets about 60 minutes of activity a day. Plus, it’ll keep them away from the TV or playing video games!”¨
5) Allow treats.
Making sure your child is being healthy doesn’t mean completely depriving them of treats. Allow them a small treat (such as a small chocolate, a bag of potato chips, or even some fast food) in moderation. If your kids associate these foods with being forbidden, they’re more likely to binge on them when you’re not around.
Do you have trouble getting your kids to eat healthily? What are your tips for getting kids to eat a balanced diet?
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105 Member Comments
Mashed up cauliflower like its rice
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I didn't give them any other option! Thats probably my best tip.
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My little one don't like to eat veggie but I am lucky that he likes to eat a lot of fruits
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I want to try mashed cauliflower?
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Great tips - this would work for adults also.
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i had a very hard time eating myself and had to be given toys for finishing meals
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Mix zucchini, carrot and pumpkin into sauces, curries and even sweets.
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I think being a good role modle is the most curtail thing you can do for your child to bring htem up as healthy eaters great tips xx
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My son has eaten vegetable all his life, he is now 17 and just loves his vegetables. I think if you start them young they just think it the norm in eating them,,
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Im going to use some of these tips myself.
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The easiest way I know of to get my daughter to eat healthily is to have her help with the preparation of snacks and meals. I've never found that hiding veggies is a great long term strategy, but also - I'm blessed with a daughter who is not even slightly picky!
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Some people are very fussy eaters but I eat pretty much anything so whatever my Mum did worked!
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I dont have any kids but these are great ideas.
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Good old fashioned bribery worked for me!
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Talking up a vegetable and making the child think they are missing out on something can work at times. I remember telling the kids when they were little that broccoli was a little tree, the kids seemed to like this and so began my different vegetable story telling reign. The kids do very well eating there vege's, they are teenagers now. SandraXxx
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Many years ago my son was a terror to eat veges. Tried to disguise the veges and he would pick them out. My dr. told me not to worry about it because as he got older he would change. It did change but not until he was about 19.
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We've always been healthy eaters and I was such a good mum making my kids own food and pureeing fruit and veg and mincing meat (tinned baby food only used when going out or on holidays) - as teens I'd say 2 out of 3 are pretty healthy eaters (both girls) but my son would happily eat junk food and rubbish all day!
You can only give them the best start in life - the rest is up to them.
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Good tips. I don't know how parents do it.
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I used to be a very fussy child!
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My youngest is the hardest to eat healthy and has a limited diet, I am at lost, hope he grows out of it as I has try most tricks.
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