If you’re a parent then chances are you’ve had some experience of battling with your child to try and get them to eat something they don’t want to. It’s amazing how stubborn they can be and how demoralising is it as a parent. If this sounds like a familiar scenario then don’t despair. In this article we look at ways of handling the fussy eater in your family. With these top tips you’ll find that your child is eating more healthy foods.
- Mixing one third fruit juice with two-thirds sparkling water makes for a healthy alternative to fizzy drinks.
- If your child loves McDonald’s and KFC then why not try making your own healthy versions at home. Choose lean beef for homemade burgers and bake rather than fry your chicken pieces. And you can make your own chips by cooking them in a hot oven rather than in a fryer.
- Replace any unhealthy snacks such as potato chips and biscuits with healthier alternatives such as fresh fruit, low fat yoghurt or whole wheat cereals. This way when your child goes to grab a snack, they have no option but to choose a healthy one.
- Encourage children to get involved in cooking. If they’ve had a hand in preparing a healthy meal then there’s more chance that they will eat it and enjoy the whole experience.
- Get them to make their own shakes or smoothies. Choose from a selection of soft fruits such as strawberries, raspberries, nectarines or bananas, add some low fat milk or even a small scoop of ice cream. Buy a set of ice block moulds and use them to make your own yummy ice blocks.
- Make your own popcorn at home and that way you can cut back on the salt and butter.
- If you are out and about, don’t automatically go for the unhealthy fast food options – nowadays there are plenty of alternatives offering healthier choices such as sushi, Subway or Pita Pit.
- Allow the odd treat occasionally. No one likes to feel deprived or as though they are different from everyone else so it’s important that as part of a balanced diet you occasionally allow the odd treat. Children need to learn that it’s all about moderation and balance.
Hopefully these ideas will help to take the pressure off at mealtimes. Try to introduce healthy eating habits as early as you can with your toddler or child. Kids can very quickly become accustomed to new ideas and the earlier you start, the easier it will be in the long run.
And don’t forget to model healthy eating habits yourself! You are your child’s main teacher and so it’s no good preaching about healthy eating if your child regularly sees you indulging in a bar of chocolate!