How to Serve Healthy Foods for Kids
Children love sugary snacks and fast food, so it's always hard to get them to eat right. You can begin replacing the junk food you usually purchase from the grocery store with healthier alternatives. Each time you go to the store, make a small change in what you buy. Concentrate on replacing refined sugars, white bleached carbohydrates (rice, flour, pastas) and high-calorie drinks with more healthy picks that focus on whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
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Instructions
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Ditch the sugary cereals during week one of your quest for a healthier children's diet. Look for cereals that contain organic and whole grain ingredients. Check the labels to make sure the sugars are low and the cereal contains plenty of fiber. Lots of added vitamins and minerals are also a plus.
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Look for replacements for white rice, white flour and conventional pastas. Give your child whole wheat hamburger and hot dog buns as well as brown rice. Use 100 percent whole wheat flour in baked goods rather than multipurpose flour. Look for whole grain pasta. These are easy switches that may even go unnoticed.
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Go for granola bars and other snack bars made from brown rice during week three. You can put these in children's lunches in place of lunch cakes. Organic granola bars come in peanut butter and berry flavors that are sure to attract your child's attention.
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Sneak in more fruits and vegetables during week four. Dried fruits come in small bags that resemble fruit snacks. So make that switch. Also fill up a basket with seasonal fruits and keep them on your kitchen table. Leave the basket there for the kids to pick from throughout the day. Be sure to include their favorites. Encourage vegetable consumption by filling celery sticks with peanut butter or sprinkling them with raisins or cream cheese. Bring your children to the store so they can help you choose the fruits and veggies they enjoy. They'll be more likely to eat them if they are involved in the selection process.
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Tips & Warnings
Switch out fruits, veggies and milk products for organic versions. Do this in small doses to get used to the price difference.
Visit a farm or farmers market. Your children will be more interested in learning about healthy eating after they see it in its natural state.
Make food fun. Sandwiches with faces or cut into cute shapes will stimulate your child's appetite for healthier foods.
References
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