Encourage kids to eat healthy food

RESEARCH SHOWS students learn better when they’re well nourished. Healthy eating has been linked to higher grades, better memory, more alertness, faster information processing and improved health, leading to better school attendance.

But when was the last time your child sat down at the dinner table and said, “Gee, thanks for this delicious plate of healthy food! Can I have seconds?” These tips will not convert your picky eater into a fruit and vegetable fan, but they should make good food choices more attractive for everyone.

GET THEM INVOLVED

If you involve kids in planning meals, going grocery shopping and preparing food, they will become invested in the process and more likely to eat. Even toddlers too young to make grocery lists can help you make choices along the way. Simple, no-cook recipes like frozen yogurt popsicles or fruit parfaits are an excellent way to get young chefs interested in healthy cooking and eating.

GO TO THE SOURCE

Teach kids where their food comes from. Rather than limiting yourself to the weekly supermarket run, take your family to a local farmers’ market (or to the farm itself) and meet the people who grow the food. Visiting a dairy farm can teach children where their milk comes from (and why we should care about what goes in it). Planting tomatoes and melons in the garden may tempt a child to try the fruits of her labour.

MAKE HEALTHY SNACKS AVAILABLE

If you stock the kitchen exclusively with healthy treats, children will eat them. As your children grow, stock good snacks in cabinets and shelves that they can reach without your help.

Some kids eat more when they’re in the car than when they’re at the table simply because active play isn’t a viable alternative when you’re strapped in. Make sure you’re prepared with nutritious snacks, whether you’re driving the carpool or going to