SuperKids Nutrition
Saving the World One Healthy Food at a Time
http://www.superkidsnutrition.com
Top 10 Ways to Establish Healthy Eating Behaviors
Helping your kids learn healthy eating habits doesn’t have to be difficult. With a little creativity
and consistency, you will be amazed at how your kid’s eating habits turn around. Use these
easy tips and tricks to promote healthy eating behaviors in your household.
Reward good choices! New research shows that offering children a small, tangible, non-food
reward for trying new vegetables makes children more willing to try and learn to like new foods.
Non-food reward ideas include stickers, an extra bedtime story, or extra verbal praise and hugs.
Offer a variety of foods, especially vegetables, fruits, and items made with whole grains. Check
out the Healthy Kids Today Prevent Cancer Tomorrow campaign for fun activities, lesson plans,
and tasty recipes.
Don’t give up! Continue to offer opportunities to taste new foods! Kids may need repeated
exposures up to 30-50 times before they accept a new food. Here are 5 ways to sneak veggies
into meals. After it’s clearly evident they liked the dish, have the kids guess what ingredients
were used!
Set a health goal at the beginning of the week with the kids. Let them help choose the idea. This
will empower them to take control of their health. Track their progress throughout the week, and
choose a prize for the family if they reach their goals, such as a family trip to the park. Here is a
list of healthy eating ideas to help you get started.
Use the Super Crew Colorful food tracker to get kids interested in eating at least 4 colors of
foods each day. They’ll have fun coloring in the hearts to represent the foods they ate, and will
be motivated to out-color their siblings or parents!
Use a “don’t yuck my yum” rule. Don’t allow the use of negative words to describe food. This
is especially important if you have more than one kid. Often, kids are influenced by their peers,
so even if they do like a vegetable or were planning on trying it, hearing that it is gross can
discourage them from the eating food. Instead, let kids describe why they don’t like the food -is it too bitter? Does it have a strange consistency? This will get kids really thinking about the
foods as they eat.
Try these easy, family-friendly, and delicious slow cooker recipes. Using the slow cooker can
free up time in the evening for family bonding, and reduces the last-minute stress of deciding
what to cook!
Turn off the TV and sit with your children during meal times! One study found that children who
watched more TV and ate fewer family meals were more likely to be overweight. Enjoy each
other’s company and talk about the taste, texture, appearance, and healthful aspects of the
food served.
Don’t force your children to finish everything on their plates. This helps create an anxiety-free
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SuperKids Nutrition
Saving the World One Healthy Food at a Time
http://www.superkidsnutrition.com
environment for them to enjoy their food. Let your children learn to recognize their hunger cues
and express their satiety.
Make a meal together with your kids. Here are 3 easy recipes to make with your little chefs.
Encourage your children to explore their senses when handling different ingredients. Try your
best to relax and let them experiment. Don’t stress about the mess!
Getting your kids to eat healthy foods can be difficult, especially with so many unhealthy options
all around. If you hit some bumps along the way, don’t be discouraged and don’t give up!
Persistence and consistency are key when teaching your kids that healthy foods can be
satisfying and delicious. Doing so in a fun, anxiety-free way will instill lifelong healthy eating
habits. Don't forget your children learn from what they see others doing, so it’s important that
you model healthy behaviors! Here are some great ways to model physical activity through play.
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