How to Get Your Child Eating Like A Champion!
Posted on 13th September 2021 at 14:55
What your child eats today can have an impact on them through childhood, adolescence and adulthood so it’s important that you do all you can to make sure they eat the right things.
Off the back of the summer holidays, we’ve all indulged in an ice cream or two and some sugary drinks here and there and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, now’s the time to focus on your child getting the necessary nutrients for physical and mental growth and development. We know it can be a real pain getting children to eat their vegetables so we’re going to share some tips on how to work with your child to get them eating well.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Like us big kids, your child may fancy some chips, a bag of crisps or a chocolate bar and that’s okay in moderation. We’re only human after all and delicious snacks can have a hold over many of us. A general rule of thumb is that if your child is eating more natural foods than processed foods, you’re doing well. Take a few minutes to assess the ratio in your child’s diet.
Be a Role Model
As you well know, children are excellent mimics and will copy things they see adults doing, especially those who they look up to. So, if you’re eating lots of processed foods, your child will tend to favour those foods too. If you’re eating lots of healthy foods in front of them and enjoying them, they will want to eat what you’re eating. Even if you hate vegetables with a passion, pretending to really enjoy them in front of your child can go a long way and don’t forget to explain why the fresh food is good for their bodies. For example, carrots help you see in the dark, a great superpower!
Secret Veg
Hiding vegetables in your child’s meals is a fantastic way of getting around the drama of them not liking certain foods but ensuring that they’re still eating well. There are hundreds of hidden veg recipes online so find a few that your little one loves and everyone’s happy. Easy meals such as pasta with hidden veg sauce and the same for meatballs or spaghetti bolognaise or crunchy broccoli croquettes. You can even batch cook a few of their favourites which means you have options if they’re having a particularly picky day or if you don’t fancy cooking!
Presentation
How you present food to your child can really make a difference. Things such as oven frying will help reduce fat intake, adding a little cheese won’t harm and making faces or patterns with food can make it more exciting.
Remember healthy eating can be fun, so try these tips with your child and let us know how you get on!
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