Food Facts and Fun Ideas

Getting kids to enjoy healthy foods can be a challenge for parents. For those of you who need some extra help, here are some helpful suggestions that may just do the trick.

Make cookie cutter shaped sandwiches. Kids love eating heart shapes on Valentine’s Day and shamrocks on St. Patty’s Day. Keep a collection of different cookie cutters and let your kids pick their favorite.

Try mini-kabobs. Thread green and red grapes, cheese cubes, cucumber slices, fresh red/green/yellow peppers on toothpicks. Or better yet, let your kids make them. They will taste so much better this way.

Use plain ice cream cones for cottage cheese and tuna salad. It’s so much more fun to eat this way!

Play with food. Let kids roll bread dough, spread sauce/cheese/veggies on pizza crusts, stir batters, tear lettuce, help make dinner, whatever it takes to be a part of a meal. The more they contribute, the more they will likely eat.

Be a good example. If parents don’t eat right, kids won’t learn to eat right.

Eating Out is a part of life. Make it an enjoyable, pleasant, and healthful experience. Here’s how….

Select family-style restaurants. They offer vast selections, and children are welcome.

Seek out healthy choices. If your child is set on a child’s meal, let them enjoy. Offer some healthier fare from your plate, i.e. part of a salad or fresh fruit, if desired to add some variety.

Ask that drinks be served with the meal, rather than before, to avoid filling up your child before the meal arrives

And, for those of you who need some help on avoiding extra calories and fat when eating out….

Think plain, plain hamburgers without sauce, plain chicken without breading, sauce or cheese. The more that’s added, the higher amount of calories and fat.

Select pizzas with whole grain thin crusts, veggie toppings and "light" cheese.

Baked potatoes make a healthier option than French fries.

Salad dressings, sauces, gravies…. always on the side.

Watch those portions. Super-sized portions can lead to a supersized-you.