A national study shows that more and more children are dealing with obesity. The numbers of children with poor nutrition is astounding. Macaroni and cheese, hotdogs, and French fries were among the top food choices for children. So how do we get them to eat better?
The first step is to make sure they eat what is cooked. If you are serving a food dish they don’t like, they can have the choice of eating it or not having dinner. This can be really difficult at first and can start a big fight. When introducing new foods that you think your kids won’t like, also serve something good that you know they will eat. This can help eliminate the problem of them “starving to death”.
Once your children know that they must try new foods, it allows you to begin experimenting. For our family, I found a recipe book that had 36 weeks of recipes. The first time we used the book, each family member rated the dinner item. I placed a star by the recipe for each family member that liked the food. Now when we go through the book, if an item has fewer than 3 or 4 stars, I skip that meal.
Find recipes that provide good nutrition – legumes, vegetables, fruits. We all remember the food pyramid from our days of school. If your kids are eating school lunch, they are getting one good nutritious meal. You can follow their food guidelines when planning your own meals. Keep the monthly calendar with the meals the school has planned, and follow them for dinner (in a different month).
Introduce foods that you know your children didn’t like before, and have them try one bite. Kid’s taste buds change over time, and something they hated before they might really like now.
Browsing Posts published in December, 2009
Back to school means back to school lunch as well. What are your kids going to eat? It’s the school lunch vs. home lunch debate. Here are the some things to consider when decided which option you would like.
School lunch is easier for the hectic mom or dad, or anyone who doesn’t have the time in the morning to pack a lunch. School lunches usually have two choices each day so that your kids can pick what they would prefer. They are well-balanced and include juice and milk. Typically, the lunch ladies make sure that each kid gets the main food item. This means your child won’t fill up on cookies for the day. Some schools monitor what the kids eat as well. You can check with your school to see what the rules are. School lunches can be more expensive than bringing something from home, but the time saved in the morning can be worth it.
Packing a lunch allows you to have more control over what your kids eat. You can pack the foods you know they like. You can still send money to buy milk or juice, or provide the drinks as well. You know that your children will be getting the nutrition that they need for the day.
A third alternative would be to buy school lunch for your kids but pack a lunch on the days that your kids don’t want to eat school lunch. It makes home lunch a fun alternative and it gives them a choice when they don’t like what the school lunch is that day.
Whatever you decide will be a good decision. There is no right or wrong on this choice, it’s just a matter of personal preference.
