How to Create Healthy Meals That Children Will Love

If your children refuse to eat healthy foods, there's still hope. With creative steps in the kitchen, you'll have them craving nutritious foods in no time. Once your kids see that healthy foods can be interesting and fun, they'll become more open-minded about eating them.

Taste the Rainbow

With kids, it's all about the visuals. Luckily, healthy foods come in lots of fun colors and shapes. Attract your kids' eyes and stomachs to healthy meals by incorporating colorful fruits and veggies. For a cool treat, blend green veggies and sweet fruits to create a bright green smoothie that fascinates kids.

For another fun visual, combine an assortment of colorful fruits or vegetables on a plate in a rainbow design. Cut foods into cute shapes to spark your kids' imaginations. Get creative and have fun while getting your children to take an interest in their meals.

Don't Sacrifice Flavor

Thanks to herbs and spices, healthy foods don't need to be bland. Most herbs and spices are low in calories but high in other essential nutrients. Use garlic powder, pepper, cilantro, and cinnamon as enticing kid-friendly toppings. This can be a deal-changer for kids who don't like the flavor of healthy foods.

A staggering 40 percent of children's and adolescents' daily calories come from added sugars and solid fats, which pack in the flavor without nutritional value. When your kids enjoy well-seasoned, healthy, home-cooked food, they're less likely to consume junk foods full of sodium, sugars, and fats.

Get Them Involved

To really get your children interested in healthy cooking and eating, invite them to join you in the kitchen. When kids help cook meals, they feel a sense of pride in the finished product. They're far more likely to give a new healthy food a try with this positive association in mind.

Allow children to perform age-appropriate tasks in the kitchen. Older kids can learn to chop vegetables while younger kids can help pour and stir. Cooking with your children is a great bonding experience that teaches them lifelong healthy eating skills.

You know your children's health depends on a healthy, balanced diet, so begin experimenting with ways to get them interested in healthy foods. Sometimes, it takes just a few simple steps to bust the vegetable barrier. With practice, you'll be feeding your children the building blocks they need while teaching them lifelong healthy eating habits.

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