It may not be easy getting your child to eat healthy, especially when all they want are chicken nuggets, hot dogs, mac and cheese or white bread with no crusts.
Sure, it is easier to give in; at least your kids are eating something rather than pushing the peas on their plate in every direction to look like they have been eating them.
But, don’t give up hope! Even though “kids menus” and commercials on tv encourage you to feed your children bland food with little nutrition, with a little effort, you can turn the world of food around for your kids by developing healthy habits at a young age. Open the world of delicious and nutritious food and leave the chicken nuggets in the freezer.
Here are a few tips on how to be a smart shopper when looking for healthier options:
• Be careful of low fat labelling: Sometimes when manufactures try to reduce the amount of fat in a product, sugar and starch content may go up to retain flavor. Always be sure to check the nutrition facts label and ingredients to know exactly what you are buying.
• Chips vs. Popcorn: We can crave a crunchy snack from time to time. Instead of grabbing chips, which can contribute extra fat and sodium to your diet, opt for plain popcorn (one cup of popcorn is approximately 30 calories vs. one cup of plain potato chips is approximately 115 calories). You can also play with flavors. For sweeter popcorn, try dusting it with cinnamon, and for a more savory option, try adding oregano, garlic or cumin.
• Swap your sugar sweetened beverage: Soft drinks provide additional calories to a diet. For a healthy alternative, try swapping your sugar sweetened beverages for sparkling water. Add a dash of fresh squeezed lemon or lime for a little extra flavor.
