Cooking for toddlers and growing children poses some unique challenges. It can be difficult to get them to eat the foods that are best for their growing bodies, such as whole grains, proteins, fruits, vegetables, and calcium products. The good news is that many prepackaged convenience foods are introducing whole grains like never before, and it is now easier than ever to choose fresh fruits and vegetables. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, frozen is far superior to canned, and you can find great kid-friendly and budget-friendly meal ideas online. You can also meet your child's calcium and dairy product needs by serving milk as their meal drink or by melting cheese over their favorite vegetable.
Encourage your children to try new things rather than preparing the same few meals that they know they will eat. This gives them the opportunity to experiment with new flavors and textures and form opinions about them. Additionally, enlisting their assistance in the kitchen can help them appreciate their culinary efforts and eat peacefully rather than sullenly. This strategy has proven to be extremely effective in my home, and I hope you will have the same success.
Cooking for toddlers and growing children poses some unique challenges. While you want to give them the nutrients they need, it can be difficult to get them to eat the foods that are best for their growing bodies. We're all probably familiar with the food pyramid and the number of servings of healthy grains, proteins, fruits, vegetables, and calcium products that our children require. Unfortunately, getting them to eat these nutritious foods is a different story.
The good news is that when cooking for children, you don't have to include all of the essential nutrients in their meals. The truth is that raw cucumbers, thinly sliced and sprinkled with salt, are a much healthier snack than potato chips, and many children enjoy them as a snack. You get a vegetable into their system, and they get a snack at the same time. The same holds true for melon and cantaloupes. These make excellent snacks and provide much-needed fruit in these critical diets for children.
When it comes to cooking for children, however, no man, woman, or child can survive solely on macaroni and cheese. It has been tried and failed miserably. When possible, try to mix things up while keeping meals kid-friendly. It is critical that you incorporate whole grains, proteins, and vegetables into your meals whenever possible. The good news is that many prepackaged convenience foods are introducing whole grains like never before in order to meet the growing consumer demand for healthier meals that can be prepared quickly and easily.
Cooking healthier meals for children is now easier than ever. When possible, choose fresh fruits and vegetables. If you can't get fresh, avoid canned (especially fruits, which are often swimming in sugary sweetness) whenever possible. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, frozen is far superior to canned because there are often fewer additives.
If you're looking for some great kid-friendly and budget-friendly meal ideas, you can often find them online. You can meet your child's calcium and dairy product needs by serving milk as their meal drink of choice or by melting cheese over their favorite vegetable. Ice cream, yogurt, and pudding are also calcium-rich treats to enjoy in moderation.
Encourage your children to try new things rather than preparing the same few meals that you know they will eat. Two things are avoided as a result of this. For starters, it keeps you from becoming bored while cooking for your children. Second, it gives your children the opportunity to experiment with new flavors and textures and form opinions about them. They will learn not only about the foods they dislike but also about the foods they really enjoy by trying new things.
When cooking for your children, keep in mind that they are people as well. They will develop tastes over time, just as you do with foods you like and dislike. These preferences may change over time. I understand how frustrating it is to spend time and money preparing a meal only to have your child push the plate away and refuse to try it. I recommend enlisting their assistance in the kitchen for this. Children are much more likely to eat foods they helped prepare out of a sense of accomplishment and pride. I know it's psychological warfare, but everything is fair in war and dinnertime.
Perhaps the most valuable gift you can give yourself (far more valuable than kitchen assistance) by 'forcing' your children to help prepare dinner is that they will learn to appreciate your culinary efforts and eat peacefully rather than sullenly. When cooking for small children, this strategy has proven to be extremely effective in my home. I hope you will have the same level of success.
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