Children are extremely impressionable. If you go outside and go for a run, they're going to want to do the same. If you yell at the football game on TV, they're going to want to do the same. And if you reach for a big piece of cake to snack on, they're going to want a piece as well. All of these habits stick with children well into adulthood, so it's important to get your children on a path to eating healthy while they're young. But that isn't always an easy task. Here are a few ways to promote healthy eating to your little one:
Bring them along to the store
Have your child be your little shopping assistant. Shop around the produce department and have them pick out fruits and vegetables that they would like to try out. They may be interested in certain item due to its name, color or shape. This way, they're going to want to try it when they get home.
Let them help out at home
When you're making dinner, encourage your children to help you out. Even the youngest of children can help wash vegetables or peel potatoes. If they're the ones making the food, they're going to be excited to try out what they created, including new foods as well as fruits and vegetables containing lots of antioxidants, helping them to eat healthier without even realizing it.
Plan dinners
If you have to whip something up really quick, it's likely you're going to reach for food that can easily be microwaved. However, those are the foods that often aren't the best when it comes to nutritional content. Instead, try to plan dinners ahead so they're all well​-balanced and include a variety of food groups, such as fruits, whole grains and vegetables.
Offer a fun dip
Vegetables alone won't look appealing to kids. But when you pair it with hummus or some ranch salad dressing, those vegetables look much more appetizing. When you offer these dips to children, they'll have fun dipping and munching their healthy treat.
