Picky eaters are every parent’s nightmare. You know your children need more nutrition than they could possibly be getting, but how on earth to you convince a gagger to choke down carrots or broccoli without having a complete mess, either literally or emotionally, at the dinner table? There are tons of supplements out there that add nutrition to the foods kids love without the tell-tale signs of altered taste or texture, but they can be pricey. Luckily, there are other options that incorporate foods you may already have at home.
The first thing to remember is that while developing good eating habits is important, if they will not eat it at all they will not grow to like it. Adding flavor to foods, even in less healthy ways, does not erase the health benefits of the good food. For example, a sprinkle of cheese and a dollop of margarine don’t negate the vitamins and fiber in broccoli, nor will small amounts adversely affect your child’s weight. Get them to eat it and enjoy it, then slowly back off on how much of the extra stuff you add. Doing so gradually will have them enjoying that actual taste of the vegetable before they know it. So if you are serving your children plain steamed broccoli or carrots and they are not receptive, it is okay to add the stuff they may like to get them started. Consider it vegetable training wheels.
Next, incorporate sneakiness. For example, if your family enjoys meatloaf, use crushed plain O shaped cereal for the bread crumbs. It adds richness and a host of vitamins, and they will never know. If they love pasta, use one of the many pasta sauces on the market that boasts more than one serving of vegetable per serving, or make your own if you prefer. Consider muffins for breakfast. There are numerous recipes that use bananas, various berries, and even oats to make tasty treats that may have plenty of fat and calories, but they have plenty of nutrients also. Many will even have options for cutting back on bad stuff like oil and replacing it with healthy options such as apple sauce, and they can be frozen.
It does not take a lot of extra work or even a lot of money to get more nutrition into kids, just a little creativity. Getting kids to eat great young is the foundation to a healthier lifestyle. . Many of these substitutions are suggested by the American cancer society when dealing with peritoneal mesothelioma to boost their immune system during treatment. Keep in mind that the only things that takes the nutrition out of vegetables and fruits are over cooking and age.
Kristin Wells is a recent college graduate from The University of Georgia and an aspiring writer. She wants to make a difference in people’s lives through her writing. Kristin also likes competitive cycling, running, and traveling as much as possible.
Great info and so true…