Healthy Eating for Children
WLR dietitian Juliette Kellow gives her top tips for
nudging the kids towards healthy eating.
Healthy Eating Tips for Kids
By WLR Dietitian
Whilst it’s best to encourage healthy eating among the whole
family, some children may be reluctant to change their eating
habits. Here are some tips to get children eating healthily
without them even realising…
- Add more veggies to favourite dishes – for example,
add finely sliced mushrooms to Bolognese, finely chopped
red pepper to tomato sauces and steamed leeks to mashed
potato
- Serve big portions of veggies they like – sweetcorn,
carrots and peas are often popular.
- Mix together grated carrot and Red Leicester cheese
and use to fill sandwiches and jacket potatoes – the
colours blend so well they may not notice the carrot.
- Buy lower-fat versions of sausages, burgers and oven
chips and grill or oven bake them rather than frying.
Alternatively, make your own homemade burgers and swap
chips for homemade potato wedges – simply cut potatoes
in their skins into wedges, brush with a little olive
oil and bake in the oven until they are soft in the
middle and crispy on the outside.
- Buy lower-fat versions of crisps and biscuits and
opt for the smallest bags available.
- Add barley, beans or lentils to soups, stews and
other meaty dishes – children won’t notice baked beans
in a cottage pie or lentils in a stew.
- Buy sugar-free squashes and fizzy drinks – if the
kids complain, pour them into empty bottles of the
standard variety when they’re not looking.
- If children won’t eat wholemeal or granary bread,
try high-fibre white bread for sandwiches and toast.
- If you can’t get your kids to give up sugary
cereals, mix them with lower sugar varieties such as a
handful each of Frosties and Cornflakes, or Rice
Krispies and Coco Pops
- Use whole-wheat pasta in pasta bakes – when mixed
with sauce it’s impossible to tell it’s not white
- For children who are resistant to brown rice or
wholemeal pasta, cook half of each and then mix
together.
Related Articles
Childhood Obesity
Nutrition Guidelines for Children
Kids' Diet Makeover
Healthy Food Ideas
More Info
Adventures in Healthy Eating - Family Fun's guide
to teaching kids about healthy eating.
Parents can use the diaries, tools and databases in WLR
to check they are eating healthily and how many calories
they need and consume.
Try it Free for 24 hours
|
