Style Up Foods to Raise a Smart and Healthy Eater

Beach Themed Desserts

Animal Themed Foods

Babies eat whatever their mothers feed them till they feel full. But as they grow up, they acquire the ability to think and start choosing whatever they like. This starts right from the food they eat to the dress they wear. The big problem here is to make our kids choose healthy foods without nagging them constantly.

Getting them to eat healthy food is no magic. But that’s not the reason to give up either. Plan every meal of the day, especially the way they are presented. When we are attracted by the look of the food at restaurants why not try doing the same at our home where we take most of our meals?

Spot the Right Location
Just as location is important to sell a property in real estate business, the same holds good for food choices of children too. Nutrition science professionals propose that healthy foods placed at the right place with the correct lighting can grab the attention of a child. Their research shows that a bowl of attractive fruits under a bright light at school increases fruit sales. Following the same technique of placing colorful fresh fruits in attractive containers would catch your child’s interest at home too.

Healthy Foods Everywhere
Stockpile the required nutritious ingredients for meals and snacks to prepare healthful foods to your kids. Place healthy foods and remove junk foods from every place your kids’ eyes and hands might wander to. Fill your refrigerators, freezers and cupboards with fresh fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta, eggs, low-fat milk, yogurt and cheese. Make your family aware of these foods in a smart and tempting way. Practicing healthy eating habits together as a family is essential to raise healthy eaters and tips to eat healthy food are available at www.firsteatright.com.

Put on your Thinking Caps
Shapes often are a big temptation for many kids. Whole-grain wraps cut into smiley shapes instead of the traditional sandwich, a colorful and nutritious smoothie rather than a glass of milk with a fruit or veggie kebabs with sweet or savory yogurt dips are huge attractions among the children.

Think Big, Make it Small
Kids always like small foods that fit their tiny palms and may lose interest when served large portions beyond their appetite. Serve bite-size cubes of cheese and chicken, small melon balls or tiny globes of mozzarella cheese as part of snacks or meals. Muffins can be mini ones made of whole grains and pizzas can also be made using whole-grain muffins as a crust.

Mini Pizzas made using Whole-grain Muffin Crusts

Spice it Up
Though presenting foods in different shapes is fun, it is not a necessity. The result is to expose the children to a variety of foods and textures that keep their interest lively for healthy foods. Instead of a bland monotone meal of chicken, mashed potatoes, regular pasta and a banana you can decoy your kid with whole-grain pasta, crunchy green beans and melon balls.

Kids Follow Suit when Parents Eat Right
Children are great imitators of their parents. Instilling healthy eating habits in children is no tough job if you are a healthy eater yourself. If your child sees you with a bowl of cut fruits for snacks or a bowl of colorful veggies along with your lunch, he/she will automatically follow suit. All the food styling and luring is secondary to setting an example practically. ​​