How Parents Can Get Their Children to Eat Healthy

Sneak fruits and vegetables into their meals and set a good example by eating healthily yourself. A well balanced diet promotes a healthy body weight and self image; energy; the ability to focus; and decreases the likelihood of chronic lifestyle diseases. Take steps to lay the foundation early in life and set a healthy pattern for your children.

Instructions

• 1

  Teach your children healthy eating habits from a young age so they enjoy good health throughout their life. It's easier to teach children healthy eating than it is to break them of unhealthy eating habits. Give them a good start.

• 2

  Have family meals on a regular basis. By prioritizing family meals, kids look forward to having breakfast or dinner. It's comforting and they can learn from the example you set. Eat healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables and your child will most likely do so too.

• 3

  Involve kids in the meal planning and cooking process so they are more likely to eat the food they help to prepare. Let them set the table. Make the grocery list with the help of your children. Encourage them to include their favorite vegetables and fruits and take them to the grocery store with you.

• 4

  Avoid storing unhealthy snacks in your house. Stock up on healthy snacks like apple slices, whole grain crackers, light popcorn and carrot sticks. Keep some snacks in your car and on easy-to-reach shelves in the house so that healthy alternatives are always within easy reach.

• 5

  Make fruit smoothies for your children and add fruits to their cereal. Children may not always want to eat fresh fruits but you can sneak them into their diet by making smoothies and by adding them to their cereal.

• 6

  Get creative with vegetables. Shred and blend them into soups, sauces and stews. Bake items with vegetables in them such as carrot muffins and zucchini bread. Serve a variety of vegetables with dip as kids enjoy dipping their food. Make eating vegetables a fun experience.