Jess Dang Jess Dang is the Founder of Cook Smarts where she also wears the hat of Chief Kitchen Coach. She left the corporate world in 2011 to start Cook Smarts because she was passionate about bringing food education back to our schools and family dinners back into our lives. Follow me here
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My kids are all grown up now, but as my mother in law might say, I was a food terrorist. She was raised with the concept that healthy kids are fat kids with pink cheeks, she would say: kids don't eat that. I would reply Japanese kids eat sushi and Indian babies would have curry in their bottles. Me having struggled with my weight since my teens I would not march that path. Even if my husband or I didn't care for a certain food, it was never said we just ate less of it. My son found out I didn't care for fish at the age of 14.
Simple rules:
1 - You don't have to eat everything, but if you're not hungry, you're not hungry for dessert.
2 - All kind of vegetables were always available. If you don't like it tough luck, you might not like you're medicine, but you have to take it. Food is medicine.
3 - Take them to the restaurant and make them eat your food (not some kiddie fried stuff), all kinds of restaurants (sushi, Italian, Mexican, etc..)
4 - Their school had 2 recesses. morning one: fruit, afternoon something as a cookie or so.
5 - No soda during the week.
6 - Never leave home without breakfast.
7 - Never, ever, ever make faces or disgust sounds over someones else food. That's rude!
They're 22 (the twins) and 19 the youngest. They try anything, and can go anywhere without trouble. So I guess it worked.
Be patient, and it will work out fine.
Thanks so much for including your tips, Paulasc! It definitely sounds like your healthy eating habits worked for your kids. It's not always easy, but like you said, with patience it will work out fine. :)
This article is perfect for children, for long term benefits of the children as healthy eating habits are very necessary. IT is very good to let our child know why junk food should be avoided rather than forbidding them from eating junk food. Healthy eating can also improve our healthy lifestyle.