The last thing you want to do when you get home from your day is have an “eat your veggies” battle.
Here are a few tips to try if you’ve got a picky eater in your house.
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Set the example of healthy eating, and eating a variety of foods
If you’re asking your family to eat all their veggies, but you don’t include them on your own plate, you might be in for an uphill battle. Be a healthy food role model at every meal!
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Include your kids for meal planning and prepping
From lists to grocery shopping and prep, being involved with meals will help kids feel like they have a voice. If they feel ownership in their meals, they may be more cooperative when it comes time to eat!
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Buy healthy food
It’s much easier for kids to choose healthy food if that’s what they have in their reach. Keep your fridge stocked with snack options like ready-to-grab raw veggies. (Hint: prep these crunchy snacks on the weekend so you don’t have to rush around after work.)
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Encourage kids to “eat the colors”
For really young kids, eating brightly colored veggies like peppers, broccoli, and fruit can be a fun game.
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Don’t make kids “eat everything on their plate”
Kids know when they’re full, and overeating when we’ve had enough is one of the ways we can get too many calories.
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Take foods your kids like and make them in new ways
There are lots of ways to add healthier elements to foods that your kids already love. For example, if your kids like pancakes, make blueberry pancakes! If your kids like muffins, try carrot muffins! If you can, include some extra veggies in your spaghetti sauce.
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Stick to a healthy eating routine!
Offer meals at the same time every day and stick with regular rules and routines. Also, don’t let your child fill up on juice or milk between meals.