Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Via ~ American Heart Association / National Eating Healthy Day
When you get home from a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is wage war over broccoli at the dinner table. That’s why it’s so easy to fall into the trap of making mac-n-cheese or ordering pizza. It keeps you out of an “eat your vegetables” fight. The good news is, getting a picky eater to eat a nutritious meal doesn't have to be a battle.
Here are some tips for dealing with a picky eater:
1. Start by introducing healthier elements into foods that your child already likes. For example, offer
blueberry pancakes, carrot muffins, fruit slices over a favorite cereal, chunks of bell pepper in a potato
salad, or shredded veggies over rice.
2. Include your kids in the prep work. By being involved in grocery shopping and food preparation, your
kids will have more ‘buy-in.’ If they feel some ownership over the meal, they may be more likely to eat it.
3. Don’t buy unhealthy foods. Out of sight, out of mind. If the chips and cookies aren’t around, your kids
can’t eat them. They may resist at first, but when they get hungry, they’ll start munching the carrot sticks.
Keep healthy foods on hand — 100 percent juice instead of colas or sugary drinks, and a bag of apples
instead of a bag of chips.
4. Schedule snack time and stick to it. Most kids like routine. If your kids know they will only get food
at certain times, they’ll eat what they get when they get it. Try to have snacks incorporate two food
groups. For example, offer cheese and whole-grain crackers or apple slices with low-fat yogurt or
cottage cheese.
5. Have healthy finger foods available. Kids like to pick up foods, so give them foods they can handle.
Fruit and veggie chunks (raw or cooked) are great finger-food options.
6. Repeal the “clean your plate” rule. Kids know when they’re full, so let them stop. Overeating is one
of the major reasons we get too many calories.
7. Encourage kids to “eat their colors.” This game works well with younger kids. Food that’s bland in
color often also lacks nutrients. Eating a variety of brightly colored foods provides more nutrients in
greater variety.
8. Don’t cut out treats altogether. Think moderation. A scoop of ice cream or a serving of Oreos is all
right occasionally. If you cut out all the goodies, your kids will be more likely to overeat when they do
get them. Make sure to moderate the treat consumption.
9. Veg out at the dinner table, not the TV. Eating in front of the TV is distracting, and kids may not
notice that they’re full because they’re wrapped up in the show. Eating as a family is a great time to
catch up.
10. Be a good role model. The best way to influence kids is by example. Don’t expect them to eat
spinach if you won’t touch it.
photo source: http://teenymanolo.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/picky_eater.jpg
photo source: http://teenymanolo.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/picky_eater.jpg
Article copyright © 2012 American Heart Association. This article is brought to you by the American Heart Association’s Simple Cooking with Heart® Program. For more articles and simple, quick and affordable recipes, visit heart.org/simplecooking.