Kids and teens

 by: Sue DeFiore

OK, moms and dads out there, we hear you when you say, my children won’t eat healthy foods. If we even say the word, they tune out and already decide they don’t like it. Well, my first response to this is “who is running the house, you or the kids”. If you say the kids, you have more problems than I can help you with. Put your foot down, you and your husband, spouse, significant other, (fill in the blank) are the ones making the living and doing the providing. I fully realize that children don’t like the concept of healthy foods. However, most children don’t realize that many of the foods they do like are healthy for them. Most kids I know love peanut butter, well that is a good food for them. So try some peanut butter on that apple or celery they refuse to eat. Or try some low fat or fat free cheese sauce on the cauliflower or broccoli they turn their nose up at.

One of the biggest mistakes parents make it to try to implement changes all at once. This is a certain recipe for rebellion. Try to make changes gradually. You know those smoothies they love so much. Rather than the milkshake try some yogurt and fruit instead. All kids love French fries (even many adults I know do). Rather than fries try substituting tortilla chips and salsa instead.

I have a friend who decided that her family was going to eat healthy and she threw out all the snacks foods and junk foods in the house. Well needless to say her spouse and the kids went ballistic. So make it a gradual change. Start by making some changes to the snacks around the house and then work up to the meals. In the long run you will be glad you did and so will your children.

Copyright, 2005, DeFiore Enterprises