Hi, I'm Charlotte Lawson, a registered, licensed dietitian here in Tampa Bay, Florida, and I get the question, how do I get my kids to eat healthy. Well, the first thing I can say is be a role model. Kids are in the fact that monkey see, monkey do. So, if you choose good foods and offer good foods to your children, they're more likely to make that choice on their own. So again, be that role model where you choose fruits and vegetables and whole grains, and actually enjoy them. Eat the healthy foods with the kids because they will see you enjoying them as well. Also, a lot of variety. Kids are going to have food jags. They're not going to like something one week, and maybe they'll love it a month down the road. So, keep and continue to offer those good and healthy foods. Also, have healthy snacks always available. Kids come home at different times during the day, maybe after school or after some sports practice. If you have those healthy foods there available for them, they're more likely to choose those foods, rather than the sugary junk foods like cookies or sweets and things like that. So again, healthy foods available, be a good role model, and also let the children choose. Have variety for them to make their choices themselves, where they feel more empowered to make the healthy choice that way, and they're going to be very susceptible to peer pressure in school. Maybe someone will trade that healthy whole grain turkey sandwich for that slice of pizza, and it's okay as long as it's in moderation. So, have things available. Be a good role model and let them choose. That's pretty much the basics of it. Try try again, okay? I'm Charlotte, and happy eating.
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