Getting children to eat healthy can be a task that sometimes feels never ending. However, with the right tips you can get your child eating a variety of healthy food in no time.
Eating a well-balanced diet is vital for children’s health and growth, and also helps with academic performance.
- Get children involved in cooking meals. They are more likely to eat something that they have made and seen the process of
- Get children involved in the food shopping. This allows children to see the variety of foods out there, and the bright colours of fruits may entice them to try them
- Talking of shopping, allow children to choose 1 unusual fruit/veg to try a week
- Make healthy snacks available and in eye line
- Instead of asking children ‘how much broccoli would you like?’ ask ‘do you want 3 or 5 florets of broccoli?’. This means they still get a choice
- Be a role model. Eat healthy yourself and show that food is positive
- Praise healthy choices. Let children know that you are proud of them for trying, even if they didn’t like it. It takes 21 exposures for people to get used to something or create a routine
- Having set meal times will allow children to eat regularly at healthy times. This will also mean that they won’t be hungry in between meals
- Growing your own vegetables helps children to understand where they come from, and once grown children will feel proud of what they have made and will enjoy eating them
Eating a balanced diet helps children to make healthy habits for life.
For a healthy lifestyle, exercise should also be incorporated into everyday life, with recommended 60 minutes a day exercise for children.
Steps2sport help to get children active throughout School Holidays at our Holiday Courses, where children have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities whilst making new friends and having lots of fun. To book your child on to one of our Holiday Courses, click here.
