All parents know the feeling. Your compliant little child who will eat anything on her plate suddenly wants all the crust off her sandwiches and won’t touch anything green. Or your son will only consume foods smothered in ketchup.
In honor of National Nutrition Month, started in 1980 to raise awareness of healthy eating, let’s celebrate ways to encourage a child’s natural curiosity and flexibility to become a budding foodie!
Be a Good Model
Research shows that children prefer the foods their parents eat. Make sure your child sees your own openness to a variety of healthy foods and make chopping, slicing, dicing, and sauteeing a family affair.
Beyond Flavor
Talk about all the different fun aspects of food, to take the emphasis off just the taste, especially with new foods. Ask about color, aroma, and texture, to that kids get to enjoy and explore all the qualities of what’s on their plates.
Epic Exposure
Expose kids to lots of different foods, either at home or in restaurants. Help them develop a willingness to try things that are unfamiliar.
For more information, check out: https://www.eatright.org/food/nutrition/eating-as-a-family/how-to-raise-a-future-foodie