To help everyone in your family learn about the importance of good food choices, consider these tips:
1. Cook more. Cook for your children and make their dishes simple, without lots of sauces and spices. If possible, let them help you cook so they can be part of the fun. Cooking whole, unprocessed foods will ensure your family is getting the freshest ingredients possible, with less sodium, sugar, additives and preservatives.
2. Eat more veggies. Present them with choices: Would you like carrots or red peppers? Pickles or olives? Try starting dinner with a raw veggie plate and let your kids select what they want to eat. It’s a healthy appetizer that makes eating whole foods a regular part of the meal routine.
3. Pick your protein. Find three protein meals your kids like and serve them often — peanut butter and jelly should not be an everyday go-to. Other ideas are salmon burgers, organic chicken strips, and scrambled or hard-boiled eggs.
4. Spice, sprinkle and sweeten. Use healthy spices like dill, fennel, lemon peel, garlic, and white pepper to mask fishy flavours. Sprinkle fish with juices your child enjoys, like lemon, lime and orange. Sweeten fish with honey or teriyaki glaze before grilling.
5. Consider a supplement. A good multivitamin can help bridge the nutrition gap. Check with your healthcare provider.
