Feeding Your Kids with a New Attitude!

Ever try feeding your children when you are seeking after a healthier lifestyle for yourself and your family?  There are many who find this a challenge, and as a mother of three girls, I have experienced this myself.  I have found a great deal of introducing food and change to our children is in our attitudes.  It lies within us to have a good attitude with our children concerning food and experiencing new flavors, textures and combinations of food.  I had a neighbor who sent her daughter over because we had "Trees with snow," (i.e. Broccoli with healthy ranch dressing).   My daughters are still convinced that eating beets make their hair soft like a princess and that it's red/pink because it's royal food.


I have tried adding, substituting, and replacing many things in my families food choices, but the key is doing it slowly and with excitement.  If you are trying to feed your kids fruits and veggies and won't touch the stuff yourself, don't expect them to chow down and enjoy it either.  Get yourself feeling good about your food choices and then start with your family.

Remember that children like to choose, just like we do, what they want to eat.  Fill your fridge with the fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean meats and dairy that your family enjoys.  Give them options and let them help you prepare the food. 

For example: You are packing your child a lunch and there are choices between a lean turkey and cheese on whole grain bread (or a wrap)  or whole grain chips with salsa and a cheese stick. Carrots or broccoli?  Apple or banana?  You get the idea. I have seen so many lunches with sandwiches, chips, cookies or treats, fruit snacks (full of sugar, might as well be a peice of candy), and sodas or juice boxes that are not 100% juice. If you ate that everyday,  how would you look, feel, or behave?  I would be droopy by 1 or 2 after eating like that, let alone the sugar drop and irritability I would experience.  Every wonder why your kids are more ornery, or tired, after school?  Check out what they are eating for lunch! 


Hope this sheds some light.  Keep moving forward.  When one experience with a new food choice is a challenge, keep trying.  When introducing babies to new food, they may spit the carrots back at you, but we don't give up.  We keep giving it to them to try and eventually their taste buds become accustom to it.  Be good to yourself and eat for health, and create positive attitudes about food and eating with your children. Someday, they might be feeding you!