If your child is a picky eater, or you haven't been paying enough attention to his diet as you should be, it's not too late to turn your child's bad eating habits around. Your child will learn her eating habits from you, and you cannot expect your child to eat healthy if you are munching on salty snacks and taking second helpings of dessert. Once your child has gotten into the routine of keeping a healthier lifestyle, it will be easier for him to maintain the lifestyle throughout his adult years.
Step 1
Hide extra fruits and vegetables in your child's meals. If your child loves macaroni and cheese, add a handful of spinach to the pasta right before serving it. When giving your child yogurt or oatmeal for breakfast, add strawberries, bananas and blueberries for extra flavor and nutrition.
Step 2
Sit down for dinner with the whole family, recommends KidsHealth. When preparing meals for your child, you can ensure he is getting the healthy foods he needs for at least one meal per day. If it makes your child more excited to join the dinner table, allow her to invite a friend over.
Step 3
Take your child grocery shopping. Encourage him to purchase his favorite healthy foods and meals. When your child is involved in the process, he may become excited about what meals you will be preparing for the week.
Step 4
Eat out as little as possible. Restaurants pack their dishes with extra salt, butter and oil. Just because you are ordering a meal you could prepare at home doesn't mean it is prepared with your child's health in mind.
Step 5
Keep a variety of healthy snacks ready to eat. Cut up strawberries, carrot sticks, celery sticks and broccoli and keep them in plastic baggies in the refrigerator. When your child is hungry, offer a ready-made snack.
Tips and Warnings
- Prepare a ready-made breakfast that your child can take on the go.
- Consult a doctor if your child is especially underweight or overweight.
Things You'll Need
- Macaroni and cheese
- Spinach
- Yogurt
- Oatmeal
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Bananas
- Carrot sticks
- Celery sticks
- Broccoli
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