Training Children to Eat Real Food

So many mothers seem to be at loss as to how to get their children to eat real food.  And, by real food, I mean, fruits and vegetables, yogurt, healthy fats, nuts, seeds and dried fruits.   I can't even begin to tell you how many mothers have asked me how I do it.  "How do you get them to eat like that?"

photo credit

A few tips:

•  Be the mama!  This one's not always fun, or easy.  Especially if you've let them eat whatever they wanted in the past and now you're trying to re-train them in the area of healthy eating.  Parents are responsible for what their children eat.  Children are too small to get their own food.  Not only that, but they don't know enough to get the right kind even if they could get it for themselves.  That's where parents come in.  YOU are the parent.  Be the parent.  Even if it's not popular.  Most parents aren't afraid to stand up to their children and make them get vaccinated. {which we don't do, but that's beside the point.}  Why do they back down when it comes to making them eat healthy foods?  :) 
• Let them help!  Children love to help.  {And I'd rather have them right with so I know what's going on anyway.}  ;)   You can tell them all about what they're getting ready to eat.  Is it a fruit or a vegetable?  How does it grow?  What  is it good for?  {For instance, cilantro is good to detox the body of heavy metals and avocados are good for your heart and a whole host of other things.}
• Let them grow it!  We plant a garden in the spring and another in the fall.  The younger children get to chose a favorite fruit or vegetable to plant.  They are responsible to care for their plant.  They watch it grow, they harvest, cook, and serve their crops.  They love it!  It's a big deal and oh, so fun!   {The first year my son was included in the planting he was so, very upset with me because his older sisters all got to plant their favorite foods, and he couldn't understand why I wouldn't let him plant his!!  Have you ever tried explaining to a 2 year old that yogurt doesn't grow in a garden?}
• Make it colorful!  What kid {or adult, for that matter} doesn't like to see all kinds of colors?  And the more colors you have on your plate the more nutrition you have!  As long as that color is natural and doesn't come from harmful, synthetic dyes and food colorings.
• Be creative ~ change it up!  Don't eat the same things all the time.  Ever had a banana on a stick?  My kids love them!  What about peanut butter apples and raisins?  Or, maybe avocado dip?  Kids love to dip and whole wheat crackers, tortilla chips and fresh vegetables are all yummy with this dip!  Try frozen berries or grapes rather than fresh ones.  They are yummy.  Or, you can stick a spoon in a cup of yogurt {or a stick in a banana} and put it in the freezer...whalla...you now have yogurt pops {or a frozen banana on a stick, which is just as delightful}!! 
• Swap it!  Even the picky eaters won't mind this one.  Make your own jams with honey rather than all that store bought stuff with processed sugar and preservatives.  Then, you can eat PB&J all the time and not feel guilty!  Make your own cream of chicken soup - this way you get less preservatives and other additives such as MSG.  Kids love macaroni & cheese.  I get Annie's whole wheat/organic Mac & Cheese and then I make my own "homemade" hamburger helper" out of it.  {Might want to stock up on it when it's on sale.}  And, don't forget you can make you're own spice mixes to cut out on all the additives like MSG.  {If you read the ingredients on your spices and you come across "natural flavors" this very well could be MSG.}  Let's not take any chances when we can make our own and have it on hand just as easily.  Farm Fresh Eggs are super for your health too and have so much more nutritional value than those store bought eggs!  Try them.  I bet you, your kids will love them.  They really do taste so much better.  Offer lemon water rather than soda or kool-aid on a hot day.
  

 My oldest showing off the first strawberry pie she ever made from scratch!

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