Getting Your Kids to Eat Healthier - The Journey Begins

Almost every week I hear other parents say “I can’t get my child to eat fruits and vegetables”. There is frequently a sense of upset, annoyance, and even embarrassment when it comes to this topic – for the parents that is. Over the last six years we have transformed the relationship my children have to eating fruits and vegetables by 1,000%. This does not have to be difficult for you parents or care givers. It really does not have to be hard- although you probably can almost see your child or children pitching a fit when you place that first bowl of beets down in front of them! Here are a few tried and true ideas that are likely to work with most children – maybe not your children, but probably everyone else’s.

 Make up your mind that it will come to pass. Yes, once you make up your mind that your sweet and loving children WILL eat more fruits and vegetables, an amazing thing will happen. They will. Once YOU make up your mind that your children are going to eat healthier they will actually eat ‘that green stuff’. You will hear new statements come out of your mouth. Statements like: “You will be eating fruits and vegetables from now on. Your job is to figure out what you like and how you will eat it.” Or this one that I actually said years ago: “You will all be eating beets tonight. You can put salt on them, some salad dressing or eat them plain. Your job is to figure out how you will eat them.” My children ate the beets with a homemade non-dairy ranch dip, and declared that they were not ‘half-bad’.

 Take your children grocery shopping with you. Have them pick out fruits and vegetables with you. While you are shopping you can talk about how the fruits and vegetables could be prepared and eaten. You can also talk about the cost of real food compared to junk food and nutrition. My children and I do this on a regular basis – where we are “on the look for a new fruit or vegetable”. The last time we went on a new food hunt,  we ended up having the kids sample some “Wholly Guacamole”, which they loved! Finding a new food was just too easy with Wegmans giving out samples that day on gluten-free rice crackers no less! Score!

Wholly Guacamole Brand

Get your children in the kitchen to help prepare the foods. Children who are involved in food preparation are much more likely to taste and enjoy the foods. You can have them help pick out the top three recipes they would like to try using the new fruit or vegetable.

Set a good example. You knew I would eventually get to this one didn’t you? Yes, it’s like telling your child to wear a bike helmet and then not wearing one yourself. Then do you really wonder why your child grows up and ditches the bike helmet as soon as they can? If you are serious about your child eating healthy, set a good example for them. Change your mindset about fruits and vegetables. We just found a new food that will work well when we dine at a restaurant for my severely allergic daughter - Revolution Food Organic Mashups Squeezable Fruit. Packaged in individual servings, this works great for travel and restaurant use - and fits well into our healthy eating lifestyle.

Revolution Foods - Organic Mashups Squeezable Fruit (we use this exclusively for when we travel or go to a restaurant).
 
Rome was clearly not built in a day. If your child or children don't eat lots of fruits and vegetables, do not despair! Start today by making a commitment and make one small change here and one small change there. It will add up - I promise. Need more help than this? Share your situation in the comment section or ask a question on this blog! I am here to help!

Love,

Lisa