1. Make it fun! Keep a chart on the fridge and have a family challenge like who can eat the most fruits or vegetables this week. At the end of the week they get a prize (that is not food related).
2. Get the kids involved with the cooking when you can. While you are cooking, talk about the value of whole foods and why you are using whole foods verses processed foods. Knowledge is power.
3. Take them grocery shopping with you and have them pick out one new vegetable to try each week. They are more likely to try it if they pick it out.
4. Make a rule that you all have to earn “screen time” by spending time outdoors—maybe even hour for hour, yikes!
5. It often takes time to acquire a taste for something so if your family doesn’t like salmon for example or some other healthy food make it a weekly thing until you acquire the taste for it like, Salmon Saturday, or Smoothie Sunday. Likewise if veggies are hard for your family to get down, try different spices and herbs on them until you find a flavor you like.
5. Start healthy family habits together. Make a list or a calendar where everyone can plan and input activities that they would enjoy. Hang it up on the fridge where everyone can see. Make it a priority for the whole family to participate in everyone’s ideas.
6. Have healthy snacks prepped. I prep all my meals and snacks on Sunday. I simply don’t have time during the week and if I don’t plan, it’s easy to eat unhealthy when the hangriness strikes. Plan meal prep time into your week.
Kids’ Fave Soup:
Let’s face it, I’m all about easy peasy and I’m all about making meals that all four of my kids will eat. This recipe that I threw together one week, fits both.
Sliced organic chicken breast (enough to feed your family)
1 package pre washed, pre chopped onion (Wegman’s)
½ -1 package organic frozen corn
1 can green chilies
1-2 cans cannelli beans
Enjoy and have fun!