6 Ways To Make Children Eat Healthier

With school-based health and wellness programs like “Let’s Move” and “Fuel Up to Play 60″ becoming popular, kids across the country are making a conscious effort to make nutritious food choices and prioritize daily activity. Nutrition educators at Learning ZoneXpress, a USDA partner and producer of “edu-taining” learning tools, has developed this list of popular tips and tricks to help kids make healthy food choices:

Get kids involved. It can start at the grocery store. Let them choose a fruit, vegetable or whole-grain snack. If they choose the food, it is more likely the child will want to eat it. At home, let the kids help with meal preparation. Young children can help gather and wash the food, while pre-teens, with supervision, can help stir or saute at the stove. Teenagers can help chop vegetables or use the oven. By involving kids in the process, they are more likely to try new foods.
Make fruits and vegetables a bigger part of your day. Eating healthier does not mean kids have to feel hungry. Instead, try helping your kids fill up on more fruits and vegetables, which are rich in fiber – a key nutrient that will help them feel full longer. The new MyPlate recommends filling half of your plate with fruits and vegetables.
Eat breakfast every day. Even if the children only have time for a banana and a piece of string cheese on their way out the door, eating breakfast is important for both kids and parents. It provides energy and curbs hunger later in the day when you will be more likely to snack.