How to Get Your Child To Eat Healthy Food
I was surprised when our younger daughter balked at eating certain foods.
Our elder daughter was very open to new foods and would try anything we offered.
She also usually liked it.
Finding a solution to the problem took a lot of effort and some "unlearning" on my part.
When I was growing up, if I refused to eat something on my plate, it would reappear at the next meal until I ate it.
For some reason that didn't work in this case.
Perhaps that was for the best, as it certainly made me think.
Listen to Your Child: Some food aversions are a natural protection instinct pointing to a food allergy.
Here is an example of that in play.
Most kids *love* chocolate.
Not our younger daughter, and it turns out that she is allergic to a compound in some chocolates.
Also, be aware that your taste buds have been serving you for decades and what tastes pleasant to you may be to flavorful for younger tongues.
Shop Together: Let your child help you choose healthy foods.
Show them a section of the store with products you feel are the best and then let them pick.
Some stores will even let your child taste a bit of produce or deli foods to see if he or she likes it before the purchase.
Making the child part of the experience can be very beneficial.
Sneak it In: It still works.
I have a few recipes that sneak in healthy food.
Salmon pate and my version of Mexican Lasagna are good examples.
I've even had people who hate fish rave that the salmon is great.
The lasagna is even better, because you have lean protein, whole grains, lean dairy and veggies in one compact dish.
Three Bite Rule: This actually started with my father.
We would have to take three bites of whatever new food was being presented.
He said that the first bite might mean that we had eaten something just before that it clashed with.
The second bite might be a mistake, but if we still hated it by the third bite, we didn't have to eat any more of it.
You'll be amazed about how having that option will increase the number of foods your children will be willing to eat.
I must add that we also have the "one bite rule.
" I like to experiment in the kitchen and not everything turns out good, or even edible.
Any experimental dish can qualify for the one bite.
There is one last point.
Convincing your children to eat healthy is mostly done through example.
Let them see you eating a healthy diet and they will eventually do the same thing.
Our elder daughter was very open to new foods and would try anything we offered.
She also usually liked it.
Finding a solution to the problem took a lot of effort and some "unlearning" on my part.
When I was growing up, if I refused to eat something on my plate, it would reappear at the next meal until I ate it.
For some reason that didn't work in this case.
Perhaps that was for the best, as it certainly made me think.
Listen to Your Child: Some food aversions are a natural protection instinct pointing to a food allergy.
Here is an example of that in play.
Most kids *love* chocolate.
Not our younger daughter, and it turns out that she is allergic to a compound in some chocolates.
Also, be aware that your taste buds have been serving you for decades and what tastes pleasant to you may be to flavorful for younger tongues.
Shop Together: Let your child help you choose healthy foods.
Show them a section of the store with products you feel are the best and then let them pick.
Some stores will even let your child taste a bit of produce or deli foods to see if he or she likes it before the purchase.
Making the child part of the experience can be very beneficial.
Sneak it In: It still works.
I have a few recipes that sneak in healthy food.
Salmon pate and my version of Mexican Lasagna are good examples.
I've even had people who hate fish rave that the salmon is great.
The lasagna is even better, because you have lean protein, whole grains, lean dairy and veggies in one compact dish.
Three Bite Rule: This actually started with my father.
We would have to take three bites of whatever new food was being presented.
He said that the first bite might mean that we had eaten something just before that it clashed with.
The second bite might be a mistake, but if we still hated it by the third bite, we didn't have to eat any more of it.
You'll be amazed about how having that option will increase the number of foods your children will be willing to eat.
I must add that we also have the "one bite rule.
" I like to experiment in the kitchen and not everything turns out good, or even edible.
Any experimental dish can qualify for the one bite.
There is one last point.
Convincing your children to eat healthy is mostly done through example.
Let them see you eating a healthy diet and they will eventually do the same thing.
