What To Do If Your Kid Hates ‘Healthy Stuff’…

Its all well and good to know what your kids should be eating, but it really doesn’t mean squat if they won’t eat it! And we all know if a kid doesn’t want to eat something, they are not going to. Period.

First of all I’d say, don’t panic. Kids’ tastebuds are still evolving, just like I’m sure yours did. I know I didn’t like mushrooms or tomatoes as a kid. But I think taking the tactic of forcing them to eat the things they have decided they don’t like will likely backfire, and they will mount a campaign against ‘healthy’.

Now don’t misinterpret what I’m saying here. I’m not saying that you should allow them to just eat the things that they like right now. The sweet stuff, the packaged stuff, the junky stuff. But I do think you have to be more thoughtful about your approach to changing their eating habits, rather than just bulldozing over them and disregarding their input. Kids desperately want to be heard and to feel like their opinions are valid and valued.

I’ve already shared a few tips in ‘Getting Your Kids to Eat Healthier’. But the process, and I call it a process on purpose, rests under the theory of ‘Meeting Them Halfway’.

For example, I’ll make something I know they like, like vegan mac and cheese , then make a side dish that is out of their comfort zone, like sautéed beet greens. If they hate the greens, I just enact the ‘3 bite rule’ and let it go for the night. This lets them feel like their opinion was heard and considered. But it also opens their eyes and tastebuds to a flavor they ordinarily wouldn’t have experienced.

Another example is taking a ‘healthy food’ like sweet potato, or butternut squash and adding a drizzle of  maple syrup and even a dash of cinnamon on top. Remember, its not about getting them to be Vegan by next month. Its about encouraging healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime. It may take years for them to ‘get there’. The key is to just keep moving in the right direction.

So what are some practical ways to incorporate these concepts?

1-In their lunches, I pack sliced carrots (or celery or cucumber or peppers- whatever your kid will eat) and give them a little tupperware container of their favorite salad dressing or hummus to dip it in. Apples are also great like this. I will slice them and then send along almond butter or peanut butter. If they’re lucky I’ve just made some date caramel and they’ll get that! Kids love dippers. And that way they are getting a fruit or vegetable in their bodies that might not have been eaten otherwise.

2-Smoothies are awesome because you can put a handful of spinach in and they won’t even taste it. And if you have a juicer, making fresh juices is not only incredibly nutritious but kids love to create their own ‘recipes’ and watch the veggies get ground up and turned into juice. Fun is always helpful.

3-After school, I’ll just quietly set a bowl of grapes or vegetable sticks out on the table. Inevitably the kids will start to munch on them. Especially while doing their homework. Sometimes its as easy as making the healthy food available and convenient.

4-Switch their snacks to healthier versions of what they already like. Not fat-free or sugar-free though! That’s just going to set your children’s bodies up for more problems down the road. Just move toward whole grains and vegetables, and away from refined grains and processed foods. An easy rule of thumb with grains, is if its white, its not doing anything good for your body! Less sugar is still important as well, but its important you don’t introduce artificial sweeteners instead.

5-Lessen their juice consumption. Have juice just once a day and make water their beverage for the rest of the time. If that is too big of a change, just switch out the juice for water once a day, and work up from there.

Often times its just about your approach. Letting things be ‘their idea’ is key.  Sometimes kids will say they don’t like something, and if you push it you’ll have a fight on your hands. They often want to make the discovery or choice themselves. Just say fine and let it be. There will be other opportunities.

These ideas are just a place to start. Think of this as a long term goal. Its an evolution towards healthier eating. It has to be a priority you value for your life, something you are willing to keep trying at, even if you stumble.The best thing you can do to make a lasting change in your child’s eating habits is to start with YOU. You are their example. If you do these things, eventually they will see what you value and why. But a kid will pick up on it in a minute if you are not genuine.

So the biggest piece of advice I have…Start with you. Your household. Your family. Your kids will follow.