Nanny to Mommy

It’s no secret that healthy eating is essential for everyone, but it’s especially crucial for kids. Their growing bodies and developing minds need the proper nutrients to function at their best. Unfortunately, many kids today don’t get the healthy diet they need.

One reason is that unhealthy foods are often more affordable and readily available than healthier options. Many parents don’t have the time or knowledge to cook nutritious meals from scratch every day, and if your kids are picky eaters who are horrified at the thought of trying anew food (especially if it’s deemed “healthy”), your efforts feel futile anyway.

The good news is there are ways to help your kids develop a taste for healthy foods and get excited about eating them. With a little effort, you can set them up for a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

One of the best ways to get kids excited about healthy eating is to involve them in growing theirown food. If you have a backyard, consider planting a garden. Even if you don’t have space for a garden, you can grow herbs and vegetables in pots on a balcony or patio.

Let your kids help you choose what to plant, and then let them take charge of watering and caring for the plants. Watching their food grow from seed to harvest will be a fun and educational experience for them. And when it’s time to eat the fruits (or vegetables) of their labor, they’ll be more likely to try them and enjoy them.

Plan a trip to a local farm if you don’t have space for a garden or want your kids to learn more about where their food comes from. Many farms offer tours and activities for kids, such as hayrides, animal petting zoos, and pumpkin picking in the fall.

Visiting a farm is an excellent way for kids to see where their food comes from and learn about the hard work that goes into growing it. It might inspire them to help with your home garden after seeing how much fun it is to work on a farm.

Another way to get your kids excited about healthy eating is to cook with them. Let them help you measure ingredients, stir the pot, and set the table. Not only will they feel proud of their accomplishments, but they’ll also be more likely to try the food you’ve cooked together.

Cooking is also an excellent opportunity to teach your kids about healthy eating habits. Show them how to choose healthy ingredients and prepare meals to maximize their nutrient content. They might just get excited about cooking, which is a valuable skill they’ll use for the rest of their lives.

If you’re looking for a way to help your kids develop a taste for healthy foods, try giving them healthy gifts. For example, instead of sugary snacks, a kid-friendly veggie-themed cookbook or a fresh fruit arrangement with a fun theme (such as gaming or sports) make fabulous birthday gifts.

If you have a picky eater in the family, try giving them a gift that will encourage them to be more adventurous with their food choices. For example, you could give a voucher for a free kids’ meal at a new restaurant or a ticket to a food-themed carnival or fair.

Another way to get your kids excited about healthy eating is to make it into a game. There are plenty of food-related games and activities that you can do together as a family. For example, you could have a contest to see who can eat the most fruits and vegetables in a week.

You could also create a scavenger hunt at the grocery store, with your kids trying to find all the items on a list of healthy foods—just be sure they’re not too excited that they’ll run through the store or get in the way of other shoppers. Or you could turn mealtime into a fun game by seeing who can eat the most bites of their dinner without using their hands.

If your kids are picky eaters, getting them to try new foods can be challenging, let alone eating them regularly. But there are probably some healthy foods that your kids already love. Use these foods as a starting point, and then try to find new ways to incorporate them into your family’s diet.

For example, if your kids love grilled cheese sandwiches, try adding some thinly sliced tomatoes or shredded carrots to the mix. Or, if they can’t get enough spaghetti and meatballs, try using ground turkey instead of beef and adding some extra veggies to the sauce.

Getting your kids excited about healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated. There are lots of fun and easy ways to get them involved. From cooking together to playing food-related games, there are plenty of ways to make healthy eating fun for the whole family. So, get started today and see how quickly your kids develop a taste for healthy foods.