Celebrate Kids Eat Right Month

Did you know that August is Kids Eat Right Month? All month long celebrate your children and set them up for healthy eating habits in the future!

As a parent, you are naturally inclined to worry about what your child is eating, how much they are eating, and if it’s the right food for them. Your job as a parent is to choose what food is served, when it is served, and where feeding will take place. Children are born with the natural ability to know how much food their bodies need. Using this as a guide, there are certain steps you can take to instill healthy eating habits in your child.

Hopefully, as your child learns and models behaviors off you, mealtime will not be a struggle. However, learned behavior can take time, and frustration may dissuade you from continuing to practice healthier eating habits. One way to ease frustration is to make mealtime an enjoyable experience with foods your child finds fun. Over the years, I have found there are certain recipes that most kids love and make mealtime exciting!

5 Healthy Eating Tips for Parents

As a parent, there are certain steps you can take to instill healthy eating habits in your children. Children often adapt eating patterns from watching the people around them. During later childhood, kids model their behavior off their peers. However, in a child’s earlier years of life they learn from you, the parent. That is why now is the time to model healthy eating habits for your kid to learn from. Here are some tips you can use:

1. Turn off your cell phone. Free your table of all distractions when sitting down for meals. Let your child see that when it is mealtime, the focus should be on the food, not on the phone.
2. Get your child involved cooking. Depending on your child’s age, there are roles that they can take on in the kitchen, from washing fruits and vegetables to chucking corn. Kids are more likely to enjoy the food in front of them when they helped make it.
3. Set the tone. Don’t use mealtime as the opportunity to bring up negative emotions or feelings. Keep the conversation pleasant so that your child doesn’t associate mealtime with anxiety.
4. Model behavior. As stated before, children model their behavior off what they see. Set a good example by making your plate a colorful well-balanced meal.
5. Let your child choose how much to eat. You choose what is on the table, however let your child choose how much they want to eat of it. Don’t force your child to eat more food than they are comfortable with, this can disrupt their natural hunger and fullness cues.

4 Fun Foods to Try

If mealtime is a source of anxiety and frustration for you and your child, try new foods that your child is sure to love. Here are just a few foods that I find most children love:

1. Ants on a log: Cut celery in half lengthwise and fill it with peanut butter or cream cheese. Top with raisins and enjoy.
2. Mini pizzas: Toast an English muffin lightly, top with tomato sauce and a sprinkle of cheese and bake until the cheese is melting. These are the perfect size meal for tiny hands!
3. Macaroni and cheese bites: Make macaroni and cheese as you normally would and roll into 1-inch balls. Coat with breadcrumbs and bake.
4. Kebobs: If your child is older, they can help you make these. Alternate between your child’s favorite vegetable and protein and throw it on the grill!

The most important thing is that everyone is having an enjoyable eating experience. Food should be celebrated and not looked at as a source of anxiety. Have fun with your kids in the kitchen and at the table.

Your Turn to Action: How are you going to celebrate Kids Eat Right Month? Let me know in the comments below!

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