It’s not uncommon for parents to require a little help when it comes to encouraging their children to enjoy a balanced diet. You may feel a little confused by certain food types or alternatively find that you’re lacking in the skills needed to inspire your little ones to try new things.
The good news is you don’t need a degree in nutrition in order to promote a healthy, balanced diet plan.
Cook at home
Cooking at home has a number of benefits – it’s cost-effective, you know exactly what it is that you are serving and it’s a great way to teach your kids a few culinary skills. Opting to embark on a weekly shop at the beginning of the week is a great idea and will ensure you have enough food in store for the remainder.
Items such as McCain oven chips are a great option for those who possess a hectic lifestyle yet also those who wish to promote healthy treats. Oven chips can contain as little as 5% fat, yet despite this, they still taste great and are a good choice for kids who require a great deal of energy, as potatoes are an excellent contribution to a weekly meal plan.
Cook with the kids
On a rainy day, instead of sitting in front of the TV, use this time to teach your kids how to cook a number of simple meals. Cooking with certain food types will allow you to teach them the benefits of each food source.
It’s important to encourage your children to try new foods at a young age as food preferences are often developed early in life. Sitting down to a family meal is therefore a great idea as your little ones will often want to eat what you’re eating.
Treats
It’s important to encourage a balanced diet, which shouldn’t mean ruling out sweets completely. Occasional treats are fine but dessert shouldn’t become the main reason for eating for dinner. It’s therefore important to stay neutral about certain foods.
Eat at the table
Kids today are often ensconced by a number of TV programmes, computer games and technology. Such activities can encourage mindless snacking so when it comes to dinnertime, it’s important to sit down together as a family – without any distractions!
Be a role model
Kids will often follow in your footsteps, which means it’s imperative that you set a good example. This means eating healthy foods with them while setting the best example possible.
Post in partnership with McCain
