If your kids refuse to eat anything but chicken nuggets, pizza or pasta, health coach and childhood nutrition expert, Stephanie Merchant has some advice for you. Known as "The Nutrition Mom," Merchant offers these six suggestions for getting your children to eat a healthier diet.
De-stress mealtime
Many parents make the mistake of turning the dinner table into a battleground, Merchant said.
"You don't want to make mealtime a power struggle," she advised. "Instead, think of ways to make meals fun and entertaining."
Kids between the ages of two and five can struggle with neophobia, a genuine fear of new foods. But if they are constantly exposed to a wide variety of choices, most will outgrow it. Try introducing theme nights, Merchant suggested. Make a list of several fun concepts such as pirates, princesses and ponies and let your child choose one. They get to pick the theme and you can probably still make the same meal you planned all along. A child who feels like part of the process is more likely to be a happy eater, she said.
Get them cooking
Involving your kids in the cooking process not only makes them more invested in the success of the meal, it teaches them life skills far beyond the kitchen, Merchant pointed out. Younger kids learn to appreciate what goes into preparing a meal. Parents of older kids can incorporate mini lessons on topics like measurement, math and chemistry.
"Even if your child is too young to do anything more than bang on the pots and pans, it's never too early to get them thinking about how food gets to the table," she said.
Take them shopping
Taking a small child along on a grocery shopping expedition sounds like a nightmare, but Merchant said it's actually a great way to set up lifelong healthy eating habits. For example, take a tour through the produce aisle and allow your child to select one new fruit or vegetable to try. Have older children read the labels; if a third-grader can't pronounce all the ingredients, that's a food you should consider leaving on the shelf.
Grow your own
Whether it's a full garden or a potato with two toothpicks in a jar by the window, Merchant said it's always good for children to see the life cycle of a food.
"Anytime you grow something hands on, you get them intrigued and more aware of the growing process," she explained.
Keep trying
If first you don't succeed with Brussels sprouts or spinach, try, try again, Merchant advised. She said many children need to see a food on their plate numerous times and often in variety of ways before they will venture a test nibble.
"You have to know whether your child likes things crunchy, soft or well done," she said. "If they don't like a food the first time, it could be the preparation and not the food itself."
Learn together
Changing a child's health habits should be a family affair, Merchant said. If the way you eat is less than perfect, your child will notice.
"Your actions speak so loud that you may not always be able to hear what they are saying," she said.
Merchant advised sitting down with your child and coming up with one new healthy eating habit per week that the whole family can try. For example, you might focus on smaller portion sizes, increasing your fruit and veggie intake or cutting back on sugar-sweetened beverages. Over time, the entire family will benefit from a more sensible diet plan.
(Good Morning America)