How do you deal with your children when you are both on different diets and trying to find healthy eating plans for your family? Here are 5 tips to make good nutrition a family affair.
You can always share the meals, which is the easiest tip. If you have two children, you will need to start with an entire meal together, instead of splitting a meal. This is particularly important if your children have different tastes for their food, or if they like to have snacks while watching TV. It is also a way to help your children get used to having different portions each day.
Make sure you both eat the same amount of different foods. Even if it is difficult to stick with the same portion size for every meal, try serving your children the same number of meals each week. This is especially important if one of you has special dietary needs. You may also want to keep track of how many calories you are giving them each day to keep them from feeling hungry during the day.
Remember to be flexible with your children’s meals. Children will not appreciate being forced to eat a certain amount of food each day, especially when it seems like more food is needed. Give your children the freedom to eat what they want, whenever they want. If they do have an allergy, make sure they eat a certain portion of foods that are not to their liking and give them something healthier. Your kids may have a hard time eating fruits, but you can encourage them to try vegetables and small amounts of dairy products.
Go out and get some healthy snacks because when it comes to getting children to eat healthily, snacks are the best solution. Many children like to have chocolate or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at home, so go out and buy them some healthy snacks. There are also plenty of choices for snacks at the grocery store. Try to make it fun for your children by serving a variety of snacks, so they do not feel deprived. Some healthy snack options include fruits, nuts, granola bars, and even yogurt.
Don’t let your children get too far ahead of you in this area! Remember that you are the one who should set the pace in terms of healthy eating. You can choose healthy options that are easy to prepare and keep and enjoy.
Do not be afraid to get creative. Healthy eating does not have to be a chore or boring. Healthy eating should involve trying new recipes, experimenting with new recipes, cooking new recipes, and getting creative with the way your family eats. You may find that your children have more fun preparing their own healthy dishes than eating the ones that are served in your house.
To make good nutrition a family affair, be willing to take the extra time to cook healthy meals together. If you do not have the time to cook all the time, try serving meals together and making healthy snacks between meals. You may even want to consider taking turns cooking your child’s meal or snacks. If you have children who are allergic to dairy, you may want to try to prepare a dairy-free meal or snack that your children will enjoy instead of regular foods.
Get creative with healthy snacks by trying different types of fruits or nuts, or by trying to incorporate different kinds of yogurt or nuts into your kids’ snacks. Fruit and nuts, for instance, are better choices than junk food. When children are hungry, the best thing to do is to tempt them with an apple or orange. If you prefer, try to make your children’s snacks taste better by adding cheese, chutney, and other ingredients that taste good.
Make healthy breakfast a family affair by starting off you and your families day strong. Try to find a healthy breakfast option that your children enjoy, whether it is a yogurt-covered cereal or a smoothie that is healthy. For those who cannot eat the yogurt, you can make a healthy smoothie from fruits and nuts, and milk.
Healthy eating is not about deprivation. It simply means preparing healthy choices for your family, as a family, instead of depriving them.
