Preparing healthy meals for children can be difficult especially nowadays when there are so many temptations around. Research shows that over 76 percent of children don't eat enough fruits and vegetables. Learning how to cook healthy for kids means making meals that are full of fresh, nutritious ingredients and have a great taste. Childhood obesity and juvenile diabetes are on the rise, so now it is more important than ever to teach your children about the benefits of eating healthy.
Talk with Your Kids
Encourage your kids to eat healthy and choose the right foods. Children will develop self-esteem as they learn to feed themselves. Learning about the benefits of a balanced diet will help your child develop lifetime habits and stay healthy. Good nutrition helps children avoid food borne illness and provide them with the energy and nutrients they need to active.
Give Them a Choice
Children are more likely to eat foods that they select. Ask your child: "Would you prefer spinach or cottage cheese tonight?" Kids are picky eaters and getting them to eat a well balanced diet can be challenging. If you force your child to consume certain foods that he doesn't like, he won't understand the importance of eating healthy and do exactly the opposite.
Use Healthy Substitutes
Think about the meals that your child loves the most and try to make a few simple changes to your recipes. Use pureed starchy vegetables or mashed potatoes instead of cream for soups. Replace full fat cream cheese with low fat cottage cheese. Use rice milk instead of whole milk. Add lean prosciutto or turkey bacon to your child's meal instead of regular bacon.
Be Creative
Prepare healthy, colorful meals that children will eat without making it an exhausting chore. For example, you can make a fruit salad, but add some maple syrup and cut the pieces very small. Peel oranges and remove the seeds. Use a cookie cutter to give sandwiches interesting shapes. Have a contest of how many fruits and vegetables in different colors your children can eat in one day.
Cook with Your Kids
Bring the kids into the kitchen. Use colorful recipe books for encouraging them to prepare healthy meals. For packed lunches, involve them in the planning and preparation. Have the children help as part of weekend meals. Preparing meals together is a great way to give your kids positive messages about nutrition.
Talk with Your Kids
Encourage your kids to eat healthy and choose the right foods. Children will develop self-esteem as they learn to feed themselves. Learning about the benefits of a balanced diet will help your child develop lifetime habits and stay healthy. Good nutrition helps children avoid food borne illness and provide them with the energy and nutrients they need to active.
Give Them a Choice
Children are more likely to eat foods that they select. Ask your child: "Would you prefer spinach or cottage cheese tonight?" Kids are picky eaters and getting them to eat a well balanced diet can be challenging. If you force your child to consume certain foods that he doesn't like, he won't understand the importance of eating healthy and do exactly the opposite.
Use Healthy Substitutes
Think about the meals that your child loves the most and try to make a few simple changes to your recipes. Use pureed starchy vegetables or mashed potatoes instead of cream for soups. Replace full fat cream cheese with low fat cottage cheese. Use rice milk instead of whole milk. Add lean prosciutto or turkey bacon to your child's meal instead of regular bacon.
Be Creative
Prepare healthy, colorful meals that children will eat without making it an exhausting chore. For example, you can make a fruit salad, but add some maple syrup and cut the pieces very small. Peel oranges and remove the seeds. Use a cookie cutter to give sandwiches interesting shapes. Have a contest of how many fruits and vegetables in different colors your children can eat in one day.
Cook with Your Kids
Bring the kids into the kitchen. Use colorful recipe books for encouraging them to prepare healthy meals. For packed lunches, involve them in the planning and preparation. Have the children help as part of weekend meals. Preparing meals together is a great way to give your kids positive messages about nutrition.
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