Helping children learn to eat healthy, well-balanced meals can be tricky, but Marilyn Tanner-Blasiar, MHS, RDN, LD, CDE, FAND, a dietitian at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, offers three tips for parents to make it more fun for kids to eat better.
- Take them shopping. “Have your children help create the menu, shop for the food and help with preparation,” Tanner-Blaisar says. “That way, they’ll be invested in the meal and want to eat it, too.”
- Put it in plain sight. “I think a fruit bowl is a great idea!” Tanner-Blasiar says. “Putting fruits out where they can be easily seen and grabbed for a snack makes them easier to eat.” Tanner-Blasiar says that making healthy foods convenient will make children more likely to eat them.
- Ask what they’re hungry for. “Figure out what unhealthy foods your children like, and find healthy alternatives,” Tanner-Blasiar says. “If they’re looking for something salty and crunchy, offer some low-fat crackers or popcorn.”
