As parents, I think we can all agree that when it comes to encouraging kids to make healthy choices, well, it's not the easiest of tasks. So what's a parent to do?
It begins by creating healthy choices without being too obvious about it. After all, for many kids if you say the word healthy, they'll turn up their nose in disgust! It isn't uncommon for kids to push aside healthy options for the "fun" food, which is heavily promoted through television.
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I have a number of parents telling me, "If I don't buy the food they like, they won't eat anything!" The reality is if they get hungry enough, trust me, they will eat. You've never heard of a child starving to death because his mother refused to feed him junk food, have you?
Children WILL choose to eat healthy food. It's just a process that takes time and creativity. There are plenty of good foods that your kids can learn to enjoy. It's simply a matter of making gradual changes and allowing their palate to adjust to the changes. In other words, their palate is used to the high sodium and fat levels in food, therefore they will need to adjust to foods that don't contain so much salt and fat. This process takes time.
One simple change I made for my kids was blending them a smoothie with yogurt and fruit instead of giving them a milkshake. Also, I served baked tortilla chips and salsa as opposed to french fries and ketchup. And for a snack, they ate sliced apple with peanut butter instead of boxed snacks high in sugar, fat and calories. Eventually, they get used to it -- trust me!
Keep in mind that the changes you make cannot be dramatic. In other words, don't clean out your cabinets and refrigerator to eliminate all of the junk food -- your kids will flip out and fight you every step of the way.
Below are suggestions to encourage your child to make healthier selections now AND later.
Put your kids in charge of packing their own lunch
The rule in my house was when you entered fifth grade, you were responsible for making your own lunch. Waiting until they were in fifth grade worked because the anticipation of "being in charge" of their own lunch made them really want to do it. And by the time they were in fifth grade, well, I was really sick of doing it! It was a win-win: They felt grown up, and I felt vindicated!
My kids would begin by making a list of what they wanted for their lunches. The first time we did this, there was only one food group listed: sweets. I had to explain that they were allowed to choose one "treat" as part of their lunch. Also, they had to choose a fruit or yogurt and the type of lunch meat. I stay away from loafs. I kept the Food Guide Pyramid on my fridge, and the kids were able to make healthy selections from that.
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