We strive to be at the forefront of educating the community on developing healthy eating routines. The decisions that we make as adults affect every generation after us. We need to make an effort right now to teach the younger generations the importance of healthy food choices. There’s no better way than leading by example & interactively helping your kids learn & develop healthy habits.

Here are a few tips to help:

Have fun with your kids in the kitchen. Create your own trail mixes in zip lock bags for grab and go snacks. Cut veggies and cheese into fun shapes with small cookie cutters. Give them praise! When they help make a meal or snack let them know how yummy it is & how strong it makes you feel!

Make eating meals all about spending time with your family. Get rid of all distractions and have conversations about the day. Ask if anyone learned a new joke or has a story to tell. Simply being present will help children look forward to mealtimes.

Give them choices, but nutritious ones. Instead of saying “We’re having green beans for dinner.” Ask “Would you like carrots or green beans for dinner?” You kids will feel respected & that you appreciate their opinion.

Limit screen time to no more than 2 hours a day. Go for a walk around the block after dinner. Have a fun game of basketball or kickball at a nearby park. The energy that your body will feel from wise dinner choices will help you continue to choose colorful veggies, instead of carb-dense sides.

Show your children that you enjoy trying new colorful fruits and veggies. Introduce fun games to encourage them to eat them at every meal. Try this Fruit & Veggie BINGO! They have to try five foods on the bingo card to win, then reward them by spending a few hours at the pool or the park or play a board game with you. Try not to reward children with candy or sweets. This will send them the wrong message that candy and sweets are better than healthy foods.