1. Banish the Word Diet From Your Vocabulary
While the American Heritage Dictionary defines diet as "the usual food and drink of a person or animal," children come to understand it as food deprivation. With the proliferation of fad diets and the existing cultural obsession with weight loss, it's no wonder kids are confused. When you decide your family needs to eat more wholesome, healthy meals, choose your words carefully. You're not going on a diet--you're embracing health.
2. Create Meals and Snacks as a Family
It is more likely that children will try the foods they have a hand in making. Whether kids are practicing their salad-tossing skills, building their own veggie pizza or making a smiley face snack from apple slices, participation helps combat pickiness and creates family connections.
3. Elevate the Importance of Breakfast
According to the Mayo Clinic website, children who eat breakfast are more likely to concentrate in school, have better hand-eye coordination and improved problem-solving capabilities. Healthy breakfasts consist of fruit or vegetables, protein and whole-grain, complex carbohydrates. Skip the donuts and refined sugars and opt for wheat toast, natural peanut butter and skim milk.
4. Make Vegetables Festive
Colorful, fun food is more attractive to adults and kids, alike. When you julienne carrots, cut up cucumber slices, chop orange bell peppers and include some grape tomatoes, children can create their own veggie villains, healthy heroes and funny faces. Serve vegetables with a side of sliced pita bread and low-fat dressing for dipping.
5. Redefine Desserts
Dessert doesn't have to mean ice cream sundaes, truffles or cheesecake drenched in chocolate sauce. Concoct yogurt parfaits with fresh fruit and granola, bake apple bread pudding or whip up a vanilla-strawberry smoothie. Replacing oil with applesauce in cakes and brownies is also a healthy, low-cholesterol alternative to traditional, fat-laden sweets.
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