Involve Kids in Shopping, Prepping & Cooking

Involve kids in shopping, prepping and cooking.  This gives them a greater sense of control and makes them more likely to eat whatever dish they helped prepare.

Previous Tips of the Week:

Substitute nutritious liquid for water

when boiling foods, such as simmering rice in vegetable broth. These days, it’s more important than ever to find ways to get added nutrition into kids’ meals any way we can. Find out how to easily sneak healthy superfoods into kids’ favorite meals (without them ever knowing!) 

A study by University of Adelaide

in Australia found that fish oil improves the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) without any of the side effects of drugs like Ritalin and Concerta -- and it does so more effectively. Good nutrition from fresh fruits and veggies has been also been shown to do the same. But kids often won’t eat these foods straight up. Find out how easy it is to sneak these healthy foods into kids’ favorite meals (without them ever knowing!) on our free recipes pages.

Absolute best tools in my kitchen

are my 3-cup mini food processor and kitchen shears (scissors). A small mini food processor like this one lives on the counter so you’ll reach for it every day. Use it to puree fresh veggies for you and your family, and then easily sneak them in to your kid’s favorite meals (without them ever knowing!).

According to a Harvard Medical School survey,

children who eat breakfast do better academically and emotionally in school, resulting in better grades, behavior and attendance. Kids who eat more nutritious foods, like fresh fruits and veggies, have improved attention span and more balanced behavior and moods. But kids often won’t eat these foods straight up. Find out how easy it is to sneak these healthy foods into kids’ favorite meals (without them ever knowing!)

To get kids to eat more, don’t over-feed them liquids at mealtime,

and then, give them water only and not milk.  Only serve milk in between meals. To make those between meal servings of milk special, try flavored milk. 
 

Kids who skip breakfast have a more than 250 percent increased risk for developing tooth decay,

according to a study of more than 4,000 children aged 2 through 5 years published in the January 2004 Journal of the American Dental Association.  Oatmeal is a good food to start the day and made even better with some sneaky tweaking!

Give the kids a straw so they can drink the milk at the bottom of the cold cereal bowl.

This is a good idea because most of the vitamins and minerals added to the cereal leaches into the milk and is left at the bottom of the bowl.

Organic Milk the Best

The biggest selling organic product is milk. Everything a cow eats ends up in its milk, so it's best to buy organic.
 

Teach kids that strong colors in nature mean strong bodies and health.

The pigment that gives fruits and veggies color also means more antioxidants and nutrients. Think blueberries, red grapes, cherries, peaches, watermelon, carrots, red peppers and tomatoes. You’ll find it much easier to teach kids about the importance of eating the right foods, like fresh fruits and veggies, when you’re not invested in having them eat them right then and there. Take the pressure off the situation by simply hiding some healthy foods in their favorite meals. Then you can relax while you’re teaching them, knowing they’re already getting some real nutrition.