As a parent, you want to do everything you can to ensure your child’s health today and as they get older. When it comes to food though, some children are picky eaters and would rather throw their carrots at the family dog than put them in their mouth. There are some things to do with kids to put them on the right track at meal times. Use these five tips to get your kids to eat healthy even if they don’t love everything you put on their plate at first.
1. Make a Meal Schedule
One of the most difficult things to do with kids is to get them to stop whatever they’re doing and sit down for food. Creating a meal schedule that you stick with every single day can help.
Scheduling meals also teaches your child the importance of eating regularly to give their bodies the nutrition it needs. If you can’t handle all meals because of things like sports, ballet, tutoring or any of the other number of things kids do, make sure you always have a plan for meals that fall outside of the regular schedule.
2. Take Your Kids Shopping
Some parents think of taking kids to the market as a chore, but the fact is that it’s one of the things to do with kids that can really get them interested in what they’re eating. It’s also a valuable way to teach your kids about nutrition as you make your way through the produce section.
Best of all, you might just find that your kids are more interested in healthy foods if they get to pick them out. They may not have an interest in mango, kiwi or exciting vegetables like squash until they see them in the store.
3. Get Them Cooking
You don’t want your kids manning the stove and flipping food on the grill, but working in the kitchen to prepare a meal is definitely one of the things to do with kids to get them interested in healthy food. In fact, you’ll get them interested in all sorts of food, from tasty treats to colorful veggies.
When cooking with kids, give them small tasks that are safe and easy to handle. For example, kids can easily shuck peas, rinse beans or mash potatoes in a bowl. They can also observe what you’re doing to learn about food and the meal they’ll be eating.
For many kids, being involved in the cooking process will make them more excited and adventurous at the table.
4. Don’t Take Orders
A lot of parents with picky eaters, or just kids that don’t want to eat healthy fruits and veggies, give up and become short order cooks just to get their children to eat. While you might want to include foods they really enjoy in your meal plan, becoming an around-the-clock personal chef isn’t wise.
Stick to your meal schedule and have snack ideas ready. If your child loves baby carrots, you might think about caving when they ask for some, but don’t give in if all they want is ice cream and hot dogs.
5. Get Sneaky
Most parents don’t want to trick their kids, but with the most difficult ones, sometimes it’s the only way to get healthy foods incorporated into their diet. There are ways to get sneaky with food that won’t make you feel bad though.
If your child won’t eat vegetables on principle, try mixing some in with mac and cheese. That’s just one example of how you can sneak healthy foods into favorite foods.
On top of a healthy diet, a child needs exercise! Consider visiting Cool Beans Indoor Playground and Cafe for a fun option of things to do with kids as well as a way your child can have fun and exercise.
