Okay, there probably isn’t one answer to the question: How do I get my kids to want to eat healthy foods? Different strokes for different folks, and all that. What works for one kid may not work for another — even in the same family. But here are some tricks to try to get your kids to love the foods that are good for them!
- Talk to your kids about what each food does for them. I’ll always remember that “carrots make your eyes sparkle” (in other words, are good for vision) and pizza crusts would make my hair curly. Okay, that’s not necessarily science, but it did get me to eat my crusts.
- Pick fruits and veggies that are in season — they’ll be the freshest and have the best flavor.
- Make sure everybody gets some exercise before dinner — if everyone is really hungry, they’ll be less picky about what they eat.
- Teach your family about the traditions that go with the foods.
One of the best things you can do to get your children interested in the foods you want them to eat is to have the kids help with the cooking! There are lots of simple things that children of all ages can do to help — from measuring dry goods like rice and flour to chopping fruits and vegetables or stirring sauce or soup on the stove. Your family may not realize what actually goes into making a soup or sauce — or even something like peanut butter!
Grinding peanuts into butter or turning flour into pasta may be a great way to get your family to learn to love healthy food. When everything is available ready-made, it’s easy to get very disconnected from the actual ingredients. Try making your own trail mix or other healthy snacks with the kids and see if they aren’t more interested in eating healthy!
Has something else worked for you and your family? Let us know!