How to encourage kids to eat healthy foods

Go ahead, play with your food. Making your food prep experience fun can encourage everyone in your family to enjoy their meal – even the pickiest eater.

Practicing good nutrition is one of the best ways to stay healthy. Doing so can prevent heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. It boosts your immunity, supports your muscles and can ultimately help you live longer.

Many think that nutrition is boring or consists of bad-tasting food. But that couldn't be further from the truth.

Good nutrition should start at a young age. Here are some tips to get your kids engaged and enjoying healthy foods:

• Let your child pick out a healthy food at the grocery store; and explain what makes it healthy.
• Create games about nutrition – like flashcards with healthy ingredients.
• Teach your kids what these healthy foods mean for them: carrots are good for your eyes, milk/calcium are good for your bones, etc.

Displaying food in different ways can make it more desirable as well.

• Use different utensils to make food look more “fun.” Use a cookie cutter to make a fruit or veggie into a favorite shape.
• For older kids, cut food into kid-safe sizes and stick a toothpick into each bite.
• Create a kid-friendly charcuterie board or bento box. Sometimes eating food on a surface other than a plate or bowl is the change a kid needs to eat something new.

Our Picky Eater webinar also has many helpful tips and advice from PeaceHealth Registered Dietitians, Jendy Newman and Tok-Hui Yeap.