Comments on: How to Get Your Kids to Eat Healthier Foods http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/how-to-get-your-kids-to-eat-healthier-foods/ Where Martha Meets Real Life Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:42:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Brittany http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/how-to-get-your-kids-to-eat-healthier-foods/comment-page-1/#comment-42802 Brittany Tue, 05 Apr 2011 22:10:58 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5219#comment-42802 Our kids love to snack on YoCrunch yogurt. The candy topping kind of tricks them into think that they're eating dessert, but they're still getting all the health benefits of lowfat yogurt. Plus, with so many different flavors, it's easy to mix things up! Our kids love to snack on YoCrunch yogurt. The candy topping kind of tricks them into think that they’re eating dessert, but they’re still getting all the health benefits of lowfat yogurt. Plus, with so many different flavors, it’s easy to mix things up!

]]> By: Bobbi http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/how-to-get-your-kids-to-eat-healthier-foods/comment-page-1/#comment-15325 Bobbi Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:35:28 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5219#comment-15325 I have three kids. 9, 7 & 5. My oldest is picky. He cooks with me-won't eat. He's not allowed to eat a separate dinner from anyone else-he still won't eat. Hide the veggies in his food-he can taste them. My youngest eats salads, veggies, fruits, beef, lamb, chicken, ham, bacon-asking which animal they come from and still eating them. Her favorite foods are mushrooms, broccoli & olives. She'll try anything once. According to her curry is ok, but a burrito is better. My middle child is developmentally challenged and is sometimes picky and other times he refuses to eat anything except refried beans & rice and yogurt. My point is sometimes you can try all the tricks but there is at least one child out there who will still refuse-and lucky me he's mine. Oh well, the battle continues. I have three kids. 9, 7 & 5. My oldest is picky. He cooks with me-won’t eat. He’s not allowed to eat a separate dinner from anyone else-he still won’t eat. Hide the veggies in his food-he can taste them.
My youngest eats salads, veggies, fruits, beef, lamb, chicken, ham, bacon-asking which animal they come from and still eating them. Her favorite foods are mushrooms, broccoli & olives. She’ll try anything once. According to her curry is ok, but a burrito is better.
My middle child is developmentally challenged and is sometimes picky and other times he refuses to eat anything except refried beans & rice and yogurt.
My point is sometimes you can try all the tricks but there is at least one child out there who will still refuse-and lucky me he’s mine. Oh well, the battle continues.

]]> By: Christin http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/how-to-get-your-kids-to-eat-healthier-foods/comment-page-1/#comment-14741 Christin Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:23:08 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5219#comment-14741 This is a great article. I may have to cut out afternoon snacks. That may help with my boys eating their dinner. They are my picky eaters. I agree with "if you don't like what I serve, and don't eat it, you go hungry" bit, but at the same time I struggle with it because I think it's unhealthy for my kids to consistently be skipping meals. I'm beginning to lean toward, "my way, no highway option." It may sound harsh, but really, my kids need to be eating. It is important for their development and even their moods. My boys consistently eat nothing for dinner because they won't eat what I make. The food I make is basic and there should be no reason to have noses turned up at it, other than trying to get me to give them something else. lol (Kids are sneaky like that). Of course I don't give in. But then my kids have nothing. It's not that I have pity on them being hungry, it's just that they need their vitamins. (And I question whether taking a supplement is even worth it. Is it really packed with what they need or is it just a hoax? Seriously.) They love spaghetti, but we can't eat that every night. Thank you for all the great tips! This is a great article. I may have to cut out afternoon snacks. That may help with my boys eating their dinner. They are my picky eaters.

I agree with “if you don’t like what I serve, and don’t eat it, you go hungry” bit, but at the same time I struggle with it because I think it’s unhealthy for my kids to consistently be skipping meals.

I’m beginning to lean toward, “my way, no highway option.” It may sound harsh, but really, my kids need to be eating. It is important for their development and even their moods. My boys consistently eat nothing for dinner because they won’t eat what I make. The food I make is basic and there should be no reason to have noses turned up at it, other than trying to get me to give them something else. lol (Kids are sneaky like that). Of course I don’t give in. But then my kids have nothing.

It’s not that I have pity on them being hungry, it’s just that they need their vitamins. (And I question whether taking a supplement is even worth it. Is it really packed with what they need or is it just a hoax? Seriously.)

They love spaghetti, but we can’t eat that every night.

Thank you for all the great tips!

]]> By: Sherry http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/how-to-get-your-kids-to-eat-healthier-foods/comment-page-1/#comment-12827 Sherry Sat, 09 May 2009 13:08:43 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5219#comment-12827 Great article! I've never been a short order cook. They eat what is on their plate or not at all. They must try 1 bite of everything, but I don't make them eat more than that. If they don't eat what is on their plate, they don't get dessert. My son still sometimes refuses to finish but my daughter (13) will sometimes eat things just to get dessert. LOL! :D I remember years ago a recipe for brownies that had spinach in them. The kids never knew neither did dh and he hates spinach, too. Great article! I’ve never been a short order cook. They eat what is on their plate or not at all. They must try 1 bite of everything, but I don’t make them eat more than that. If they don’t eat what is on their plate, they don’t get dessert. My son still sometimes refuses to finish but my daughter (13) will sometimes eat things just to get dessert. LOL! :D I remember years ago a recipe for brownies that had spinach in them. The kids never knew neither did dh and he hates spinach, too.

]]> By: Brandy http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/how-to-get-your-kids-to-eat-healthier-foods/comment-page-1/#comment-12800 Brandy Fri, 08 May 2009 17:39:34 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5219#comment-12800 I personally have a real problem with the idea of hiding vegetables in other foods as a way to get your child to eat vegetables. I think that part of our jobs as parents is to teach our children how to eat healthy and if they don't realize they are eating those things, how do they know that they need to? The rule in my house is that you have to have one bite of everything before you are allowed to leave the table. I don't feel like I'm forcing my son into bad eating habits (one bite is not going to make him overeat) but he can't claim he doesn't like something without trying it. I always make sure that I tell him how proud I am of him for trying it even if he didn't like it. It often takes a dozen tries before he starts to like certain things but he does come around eventually. The result of this is that at four years old he eats almost anything I put in front of him and he's always willing to try new things. I personally have a real problem with the idea of hiding vegetables in other foods as a way to get your child to eat vegetables. I think that part of our jobs as parents is to teach our children how to eat healthy and if they don’t realize they are eating those things, how do they know that they need to?

The rule in my house is that you have to have one bite of everything before you are allowed to leave the table. I don’t feel like I’m forcing my son into bad eating habits (one bite is not going to make him overeat) but he can’t claim he doesn’t like something without trying it. I always make sure that I tell him how proud I am of him for trying it even if he didn’t like it. It often takes a dozen tries before he starts to like certain things but he does come around eventually. The result of this is that at four years old he eats almost anything I put in front of him and he’s always willing to try new things.

]]> By: Erna http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/how-to-get-your-kids-to-eat-healthier-foods/comment-page-1/#comment-12730 Erna Thu, 07 May 2009 15:07:32 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5219#comment-12730 My children tend to eat what we eat but minus the spices or seasonings. This may be another tip. I may use a few more pots or pans to keep their things plain tasting but the food is all the same. There are varying degrees of interest in seasoning and spices and if they want ours they can. My children tend to eat what we eat but minus the spices or seasonings. This may be another tip. I may use a few more pots or pans to keep their things plain tasting but the food is all the same. There are varying degrees of interest in seasoning and spices and if they want ours they can.

]]> By: Anne-Marie http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/how-to-get-your-kids-to-eat-healthier-foods/comment-page-1/#comment-12675 Anne-Marie Wed, 06 May 2009 19:49:30 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5219#comment-12675 I think you, Katie, should get a lot of kudos for braving to write on such a topic. Another good book is The Sneaky Chef. Since reading that, I have been able to modify and sneak more things into my children's diets. And once they have gobbled down the sneaky ingredients a few times, I start revealing the ingredients to them. I think you, Katie, should get a lot of kudos for braving to write on such a topic.

Another good book is The Sneaky Chef. Since reading that, I have been able to modify and sneak more things into my children’s diets. And once they have gobbled down the sneaky ingredients a few times, I start revealing the ingredients to them.

]]> By: Suzanne http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/how-to-get-your-kids-to-eat-healthier-foods/comment-page-1/#comment-12673 Suzanne Wed, 06 May 2009 18:21:51 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5219#comment-12673 This was a great post! I also realize that not everything works for everyone. My son has always been extremely picky. For a while I would make him a pb&j sandwich for dinner because he never wanted to try anything I made. After a short while I realized that I was being ridiculous. So, we started telling him he could eat what I served or nothing at all. At first he skipped dinner nearly every single night. But now, after many many months, he is finally starting to taste things and occasionally he even likes it. At first I felt really guilty about letting him go to bed hungry. But then I reminded myself that he's the one choosing to not eat the food offered to him. I also recently cut out the afternoon ("after nap") snack and that has really helped, too because he is really hungry at dinner time. I can't wait to try those black bean brownies! This was a great post! I also realize that not everything works for everyone. My son has always been extremely picky. For a while I would make him a pb&j sandwich for dinner because he never wanted to try anything I made. After a short while I realized that I was being ridiculous. So, we started telling him he could eat what I served or nothing at all. At first he skipped dinner nearly every single night. But now, after many many months, he is finally starting to taste things and occasionally he even likes it. At first I felt really guilty about letting him go to bed hungry. But then I reminded myself that he’s the one choosing to not eat the food offered to him.

I also recently cut out the afternoon (“after nap”) snack and that has really helped, too because he is really hungry at dinner time.

I can’t wait to try those black bean brownies!

]]> By: Jennifer http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/how-to-get-your-kids-to-eat-healthier-foods/comment-page-1/#comment-12668 Jennifer Wed, 06 May 2009 17:29:26 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5219#comment-12668 ONe thing that helps us is that when my kids hit about age 6, I allow them to pick one food that they don't have to eat. My oldest picked carrots and my dd picked bananas. My other 2 haven't picked yet. It has really helped with the complaints. They know they have to eat everything else I serve. Now I do struggle with my youngest who does not like potatoes. From the time she could talk she would say "No me like tatoes" Ugh! I have served potatoes in every shape and form with all kinds of different flavors. She can spot a potato a mile away and no she won't eat french fries either. I do make her take a few bites every time we have potatoes (which is often) in hopes of getting her used to the taste. but really, this has been going on for almost 4 years. Soon she will be old enough to decide that potatoes are the food she will not ever have to eat and they are a main staple in my house. I mean I can avoid bananas and carrots pretty easily, but not potatoes. Any ideas? For the most part my kids will eat a very good variety of things and eat plenty of foods that are not really kid friendly. but I am stuck on the potato issue. ONe thing that helps us is that when my kids hit about age 6, I allow them to pick one food that they don’t have to eat. My oldest picked carrots and my dd picked bananas. My other 2 haven’t picked yet. It has really helped with the complaints. They know they have to eat everything else I serve.

Now I do struggle with my youngest who does not like potatoes. From the time she could talk she would say “No me like tatoes” Ugh! I have served potatoes in every shape and form with all kinds of different flavors. She can spot a potato a mile away and no she won’t eat french fries either.

I do make her take a few bites every time we have potatoes (which is often) in hopes of getting her used to the taste. but really, this has been going on for almost 4 years. Soon she will be old enough to decide that potatoes are the food she will not ever have to eat and they are a main staple in my house. I mean I can avoid bananas and carrots pretty easily, but not potatoes. Any ideas? For the most part my kids will eat a very good variety of things and eat plenty of foods that are not really kid friendly. but I am stuck on the potato issue.

]]> By: Ginger http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/how-to-get-your-kids-to-eat-healthier-foods/comment-page-1/#comment-12659 Ginger Wed, 06 May 2009 14:54:55 +0000 http://www.thehappyhousewife.com/?p=5219#comment-12659 Super post. I am a pediatric nurse in a physician's office and I give this same advice numerous times during the week.I hear but "he'll only eat fries and gummy bears" in my sleep. I have also always employed this advice at my table. And while I have a child who would prefer junk to veggies, he hasn't starved yet using these same techniques. Nor have I ever seen a child become malnourished simply because his parents refused to cater to his food whims. Everyone has food likes/dislikes (my son wouldn't eat ground beef in any form, still won't touch mashed potatoes) but as parents are job is to give them healthy variety in all meals/snacks, setting an example they can choose to follow. Super post. I am a pediatric nurse in a physician’s office and I give this same advice numerous times during the week.I hear but “he’ll only eat fries and gummy bears” in my sleep.
I have also always employed this advice at my table. And while I have a child who would prefer junk to veggies, he hasn’t starved yet using these same techniques. Nor have I ever seen a child become malnourished simply because his parents refused to cater to his food whims.

Everyone has food likes/dislikes (my son wouldn’t eat ground beef in any form, still won’t touch mashed potatoes) but as parents are job is to give them healthy variety in all meals/snacks, setting an example they can choose to follow.

]]>