It doesn’t have to be World Food Day (October 16th) to think about creating healthy eating habits for your kids- this should be your concern throughout the year… Provide your little ones with lots of nutritional options and make them eat veggies, fruit, fish & seafood, or legumes & pulses; sometimes, all it takes is a creative approach to see things differently and more… tasty! Read on and choose those tips that are closer to your family’s routine and habits: a healthy diet for your kids is on its way!
Winning the war of… Veggies.
Step 1: Make it crunchy.
Offer crunchy, raw vegetables before the main meal, when children are really hungry- or as a lunch box choice. Yummy peppers, cabbage, cucumbers and dark leafy greens (such as spinach) can easily be eaten raw.
Step 2: Dip, dip, dip!
Dressings and sauces are always a hit and a perfect way to introduce new tastes.
Step 3: Sneak the healthy stuff in.
Just add carrot to a mouthwatering pasta sauce, hide a little bit of spinach under a blanket of mashed potatoes, or add some broccoli to muffins!
Step 4: Turn vegetables into delicious dishes.
A vegetable pie or a homemade pizza with vegetable toppings is always tasty!
And if my kids don’t eat… Fruit?
Step 1: Use fun shapes.
Present fruit in an out-of-the-box way. Cut them into fun shapes and smiley faces – cookie cutters are always useful!
Step 2: Think small.
For kids, anything “mini” equals fun. Serve bite-size cubes of fruit on skewers; the easier the foods are to eat, the better.
Step 3: Make homemade desserts.
Tarts with strawberries, fruit salads with a little bit of honey and cinnamon, banana muffins, apple pies… It’s easy to reach for packed biscuits when you and your kids feel like nibbling on something, but these snacks tend to be really low in nutrients and really high in calories! So depending on the season and your mood, follow some fruit-filled ideas.
Get the kids hooked on… Fish & Seafood!
Step 1: Be super-careful when it comes to bones.
Kids love fillets – normally bone free – and steaks which are usually cut into serving portion sizes (and make your prep time shorter!).
Step 2: Turn seafood into a yummy dish.
Octopus, calamari and shrimp can easily be added to a risotto. Or you can use pasta as a perfect backdrop for your favorite combinations of seafood and sauces. You may also want to try succulent tuna wraps, homemade fish fingers and salmon quesadillas.
Step 3: Add sauces.
Add a mustard-based sauce or some mayonnaise to make fish more appetizing; satisfying your kids’ taste buds with simple but nutritious choices is possible!
Make them love… Legumes & Pulses.
Step 1: Mix, mix, mix.
Cooked lentils, beans or peas can easily be puréed and put into soups or homemade sauces. You can also add some lentils or beans in a salad. Plus, you can prepare toothsome lentil-rice or chickpea-rice dishes, starting with more rice than legumes.
Step 2: Give your kids a choice.
“Would you prefer a soup, a wrap, or a salad with these beans?” – that’s a good way to make your little ones think that this is their choice, not yours!
And bear in mind that eating in a positive atmosphere helps kids love food, and develop healthy attitudes. That’s why all parents and caregivers should always play an important role in keeping mealtimes fun!
Find on Nannuka fully vetted babysitters and nannies you can trust to follow your family’s eating habits under your guidance!