Babies and children learn by observing and imitating the closest people around them, most often their parents. From them, they learn about the world and life; by watching adults, they form their habits and opinions on various topics. If dad loves football, the child will too. If mom reads books, the child will too. If parents eat in a healthy way, the child will too.
Eat Together with Your Baby/Children
When it comes to teaching children to eat healthily, you must show them by example. Sit with your children at the table and show them what Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower are (if you haven’t already introduced them to green and white flowers). This way, your baby will observe your reaction to the food you give them. Of course, their food won’t be as seasoned as yours, but they should taste real ingredients. When introducing solid foods to your baby, aged 4-6 months, according to pediatricians’ advice, you will know which foods to offer first: potatoes, carrots, rice, spinach, pumpkin, bananas, etc. All these are foods that the baby will easily accept.
To help yourself and save time in food preparation, feel free to buy ready-made purees with 100% natural ingredients. Just pay attention to the labels, as you will find a detailed list of nutritional values, sugars, salts, fats, and other ingredients. Each jar clearly indicates the appropriate age for the baby or child: 4 months, 6 months, 12 months, 2 years, etc.
- Visual Effect – Help in Accepting New Foods
When the baby starts with purees, they can taste and smell the food they are eating but do not know what it looks like. Give your baby a potato or carrot while they are eating the puree made from that food. The broccoli flower you are eating, give it to your little one as well. It will be interesting for them to play and examine “that green thing” in their hands, and they will taste it in the puree. When giving them jarred purees, show them the picture of the food. They will surely eat everything you prepare more easily.
- Positive Attitude Towards Healthy Food
Always have a positive attitude about the food you eat and try not to force your child with sentences like: “You won’t get ice cream if you don’t eat the green beans.” This way, the child will understand that green beans are bad because they HAVE to eat them to get dessert as a reward. When introducing new foods, always say something positive about that vegetable, fruit, meat, or fish. Give your little one a chance to love everything you put on their plate, even what you yourself don’t want to taste. Try not to influence your child’s taste with your own. Act a little, say “mmm, this is delicious,” and take at least one bite—with a smile on your face.
- Go Grocery Shopping with Your Child
When the child is a little older, make a shopping list together for the supermarket and, in that way, set an example of what a meal should look like. For example, for breakfast, put whole grain bread, fresh cheese for spreading, fresh peppers (let the child choose the color), yogurt, and milk on the list. Let them choose which vegetables they want in the soup, which to pick as part of the main meal with meat, which for a salad, and fruit as a dessert or snack. Tell them why each item is important as you go along. This way, they will learn to pay attention to what they eat.
Allow them to pick and put a sweet treat in the cart at the end, which they can eat after the meal. Do not discourage them from eating sweets, but guide them to consume them in limited quantities.
- Play with Food
Turn it into a game – let each food item have some superpower that the child gains after consuming it. Connect certain superheroes with specific foods, for example, Popeye eats spinach, Banana Man – as his name suggests. However, you need to be careful here. Ninja Turtles only eat pizza, so explain to your little one that this kind of food can’t be eaten every day because it’s not healthy to eat only dry food. Together, create a super character who eats all the food their mom prepares and, as a result, is smart, strong, and brave…
Play with food by making various characters or shapes. Make a dessert together and allow them to lick the bowl with cream. We remember such moments, so why not create such memories together with our loved ones.
