While parents can make decisions about what foods are served for family meals and which snacks are available at home, kids must learn to make their own choices when they are at school and away from home. School lunches must meet minimum nutritional requirements set forth by the USDA, but most schools have a la carte items and vending machines where high fat, high sodium, sugary foods are available. Many school clubs sell snack foods to raise money for projects, too. Just finding a healthy food choice can be a dilemma for some kids at school. Parents, teachers, and health care workers need to be involved in making sure that healthy choices are available in schools.
From the earliest age, kids will copy what they see parents and older siblings doing. Setting an example of healthy eating will set up the thought process for your children to do the same. Involve your kids in planning meals, shopping for groceries, selecting produce, and preparing the foods, and they will be excited to eat their creation. Recipes can be very simple, like frozen fruit juice or frozen yogurt popsicles, or a fresh fruit salad. Even very young children can wash fruits and vegetables to prepare them for eating.
Children will also become more involved in fresh produce if they see where it is grown. Go to farmer’s markets where they can talk to the growers, or go to U-Pick farms and have fun picking berries. Fun, food-friendly activities like this will make a lasting positive impression on children. Always make sure that there is a variety of healthy snack food available for children. Offering a choice between several healthy possibilities will keep junk food out of the picture.