I have been asked by so many parents as part of my consulting work on nutritional healing to help devise a “ plan” for their household. I am excited to say that my book is due out in a few months. Meanwhile I have some suggestions and would love your feedback-
The idea is to encourage your child to participate in healthier eating habits. Encourage your child to make some simple changes for better eating like replacing white bread with whole grain- preferably a rice or gluten free grain or bread. Slowly start to switch to a lower dairy based diet- use rice milk, yogurts, almond milk etc. Then you can begin to start to push more fruits and vegetables and explain why its important to not eat only starches.
Take your child shopping with you and help them pick foods that are better choices- if they are old enough to read they can look at labels with you and involve themselves in the decision-making. If they are old enough you can also have them help you clean out your pantry of unhealthy choices and have them make a list of ways to make healthier snacks
Make your own “cookbook” using magazines and picture cut-outs picking healthier foods. Decorate the kitchen with options to remind yourself and your kids that eating is to grow strong and healthy. Pick categories of foods for them to choose from with pictures so they can be reminded what they pick from each category.
Make an effort to include your child in any farmer’s market or outdoor market where there is usually a lot of vegetables and fruit that you can often handpick or at least touch and feel. Be sure to get a mixture of colors and shapes of veggies and fruit so they stay interested. Then let them choose their favorites and stick with it. Encourage them to try different colors and shapes of food. This will insure they sample different nutrients.
School lunches are usually a nutritional nightmare. Stand up for your child’s nutrition at school and if they are serving garbage-type foods, insist that your pediatrician sends a letter stating that your child needs to carry a lunch to school. . This sounds like a huge headache but will do more for your child’s nutrition than you can imagine. Same for after-school hunger- even though it’s tempting to grab a lunchable” remember that all your hard work on the weekends will be for naught if your kid is eating garbage every day at school.
