Making sure our kids eat the right, healthy foods has become a national obsession and I’m sure, like most parents, you’re determined to help your kids feel motivated, energized, and reach their true potential. Want healthy lunch ideas for.
There are some really excellent reasons to make sure our kids eat healthy and here are two of the most important.
1. Studies have shown that kids who eat a healthy lunch are more motivated in school and basically do better. That’s what we all want for our kids and it’s great that as parents we have the power to make it happen easily!
2. Childhood obesity is a growing problem in North America – 5 million youth aged 6-17 are clinically obese. By introducing your kids to healthy food early on, you are giving them the gift of a healthy life!
Of course there are many more reasons that I will not list. I’m sure if you’re reading this you’re already convinced of the value of providing healthy meals and snacks for your family!
So what are some tips to help you provide healthy food options for your kids?
1. Well first of all keep healthy snacks lying around the house. Children are natural grazers and will turn to unhealthy options if healthy snacks are not available to them. In fact, I would suggest that you have a cupboard clean out and try to remove any unhealthy snacks so the kids can’t see them and you’re not tempted to “give in” in a stressful moment.
* Some great healthy snack tips are:
Hummus and vegetable sticks
– Salsa and re-fried beans mixed together make a great snack or a dip for toasted pita triangles
Toasted pita triangles and low-fat ranch dressing
Sweet and crunchy vegetables like carrots and red peppers
All of them are quick, easy to make and ready to be kept in the fridge for when you need them.
2. Another key idea of healthy eating is creating meals that are easy for your kids to eat and easy for you to make. You’re a busy person, so don’t stretch yourself too much, there are many great quick, easy options available.
* Handy Tip: Wraps are easy and kids love them. Try adding some new content like this. My favorites are the Baked Tofu, Peanut Butter and Snow Pea Wrap and the Turkey Breast, Mozzarella, Cucumber, Avocado and Alfalfa Sprouts Wrap. Both mix ingredients have been tried by kids before and by newcomers. Try swapping out the peanut butter for cashew or almond butter for variety.
3. Try and prepare as much in advance as possible. It’s unlikely that you’re able to come home from work and put 100% effort into your kids’ meals or prepare meals first thing in the morning. So, choose a time when you can give it your full attention and prepare a few days in advance. Some things like sauces and dips will be around for a while, so figure out when is the right time to turn on your cooking mojo! When you can cook, that’s also a big clue as to what kind of lunch to make. If you really only have free time for something complicated on the weekend, choose things that will require very little extra preparation first thing in the morning.
* Top Tip: Many meals are freezable, which is a great suggestion for after-school meals. It’s always a good idea to cook a large casserole, soup or stew and portion it out in bags for the next week. For school lunches, try preparing your ingredients a few days in advance. Cooked chicken and turkey breast will last for 3-4 days. Also, you can make any dip like ranch dressing 3-4 days in advance. Tuna mayo will also keep, but I recommend keeping it well sealed as it can smell up your refrigerator!
4. Try to involve your child in the process of healthy eating whenever possible. If your child hates sweet things (unlikely but does happen sometimes!) don’t force him, look for savory lunches instead and vice versa. You want to introduce your kids to new types of food and dining experiences and it can be an enjoyable process for everyone. Choosing the things they really can’t afford would be like hitting a brick wall at every meal.
5. A good tip for introducing kids to new food experiences is to use portion control. Mix small amounts of the new food with something you know they like and gradually introduce a variety of food in this way. Just remember that it’s okay that your child doesn’t like everything, I know I don’t and I’m sure you do too! For example, try adding avocado and celery to a tuna mayo salad.
Great healthy lunch ideas for your kids will be easy if you follow these rules: Keep it simple, don’t over-extend yourself, get your little one’s suggestions, and introduce things slowly. You’ll soon have a family full of healthy eaters!
Source by JR Holt
