Please Pass the Vegetables
 Getting kids to eat healthy foods
Want to call a truce at those dinner-table battles? You can by taking a
fresh approach in getting your children to eat well. Mix a little child
psychology with creativity and you've got a recipe for good nutrition
with less anxiety.
- First, involve children in preparation of meals. "Tell
your children food always tastes better when they help," advises
Hasbro Children's Hospital dietitian Barbara Robinson. They love to
add ingredients or roll out dough. Keep the tasks simple, like
scrubbing vegetables or sprinkling grated cheese. Another smooth move
from Robinson--occasionally ask your child: "Do you think we
should have a red vegetable like tomatoes or a green one like
broccoli?" It's a win-win situation.
- Next, disguise vegetables. You can camouflage cauliflower
with cheese or conceal a carrot with brown sugar glaze. Dressings or
salsa make veggies more appetizing to youngsters.
- Be a good role model. If you turn up your nose at turnips,
children will follow suit. Turn off the TV, sit down for meals, and
when it come to snacking, grab an apple instead of chips. If you eat
well, your offspring eventually will pick up the habit.
One last piece of advice: the old adage "breakfast is the
most important meal" is still true. Kids need to re-fuel after not
eating for up to 12 hours. "Studies show that children perform better
in school if they've eaten a balanced breakfast," says Robinson.
Today's breakfast foods are easier than ever to fix, even for
grade-schoolers. Instant oatmeal, cereals and microwave pancakes will help
get your youngsters get off to great start.
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