How to get kids to eat healthy

Climate change, peace in the Middle East, and the national debt can seem like a piece of cake in comparison to getting our kids to eat healthy.

Even Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright might have been challenged to find some new tricks of the trade when it came to negotiating with their own children about their eating habits. So what does a parent who has not been trained in the art of difficult diplomacy do?

My daughter is only 3-years old. In the ranks of dedicated parents wanting the best for our children, I want to help her hone her palate to eat healthy.

Numerous studies have shown that the development of poor eating habits can begin as early as 12-24 months of age. Diets that are sparse in whole grains, fresh fruit, and vegetables, or that consist of frequent high-calorie between-meal snacks, and high amounts of saturated fat can all affect eating habits and weight down the road.

Not to fret if you missed that boat, you can still catch the later one to get to your destination.

Dr. Nina’s What You Need to Know to get older kids into the habit of eating healthy

At the grocery store:

Make it a family outing.
Let them decide. Provide an option between two fruits or two vegetables. At the table, if they refuse to eat it, remind them that they chose it.
Also, before you leave you can ask them to find a healthy recipe to take along on your trip. It makes for good conversation beforehand, supports good research and it is fun to find the ingredients at the store (read the labels) for a lively, interactive (and more often ‘yummy’) prep time at home.

In the kitchen

Fire the short order chef. Everyone gets the same meal.
Revamp the menu. Get the kids to create the dinner menu, with certain rules: the meal must incorporate the four food groups and be healthy! Learning to read the labels is a valuable insight that will reward the process for years to come.
Enlist help. Have them help with washing, preparing, serving and naming the meal (e.g. “Bobby’s garlic chicken”). They will be more likely to eat it if they (helped) make it and they “own it.”

At mealtime

Strategize. Try new (healthy) foods first when kids are hungriest. Don’t be defeated if they do not gobble it up. It typically takes several tries before a child will enjoy, or even be willing to try, a certain food. And give it a break by waiting a few days before introducing a rejected food again.
Unplug distractions. Television, tablets, smart phones, MP3 players … let’s face it distractions are aplenty. Make dinner time an opportunity to talk to one another while enjoying what you are eating. Depending on the age of your children table time may be a challenge. Try for 2-5 nights but we know those teens have lots of late night extracurricular activities so aim for at least one night a week (perhaps Sunday), at a minimum and as a rule.

Snack time

Don’t go hungry. There is no reason to be so hungry you can eat a horse. Take this time to offer healthy snacks such as carrots, peanut butter, nuts, low-fat yogurt, humus, a boiled egg or fruit.
At school and extracurricular activities, volunteer to send sliced oranges, applesauce, yogurt or bananas for the “snack” before the big game or practice.

So grab your armor and get ready. The battle is a learning experience and requires commitment on our part.

One thing is for sure: we lead by example. Let’s snack healthy, eat well-balanced meals, and drink water instead of sugary beverages.

The laissez faire attitude of “qu’ils mangent de la brioche,” or “let them eat cake” is not applicable to our battle to get our kids to eat healthy. Their health is not something that we can afford to surrender to without fighting the good fight.

This article is for general information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions and cannot substitute for the advice from your medical professional. Dr. Nina has used all reasonable care in compiling the current information but it may not apply to you and your symptoms. Always consult your doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions or questions.