How to ensure your kids enjoy healthy meals

Packing lunch for your little one may be a headache because your child comes back home from school with their food untouched. This can be frustrating and confusing for any parent. In a world where junk food and take-aways are cheap and easily accessible, as a busy mom trying to strike a balance between work and parenting, you may struggle to give your child a balanced meal every day and opt for the easy way out.  Allowing your child to indulge in junk food as a treat now and again is alright, but only if your child’s daily diet is balanced and nutritious.

Breakfast packed with proteins

Teach your child that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Your children must eat breakfast ahead of a hectic day to fuel their brains and get them ready for heavy-duty learning. A hearty breakfast that is high in nutritional value sustains energy levels until lunchtime.  While cereal is a popular option for parents as it is quick and easy to make, cereals often contain large amounts of hidden sugar. Try and vary your child’s breakfast options and don’t offer boxed cereal for breakfast every day. 

A balanced diet

Kids love choice, so offer two equally nutritious options, including carbohydrates (wholewheat bread), dairy (milk),  and proteins (low-fat cheese, turkey, scrambled eggs, and sausage). Protein is not only filling but keeps blood sugars regulated for a longer time as opposed to serving carbs on their own.

Make lunchtime exciting

You can motivate your little ones to eat by filling lunch tins and bags with fresh sandwiches (tuna fish topped with lettuce, sliced cucumbers, grated carrots, hard-boiled eggs, and chopped celery) and using biscuit cutters to carve them into fun shapes. Add fruit salad or fruit slices into containers and add drinking yogurt. Lighter snacks could include popcorn, dried fruit, pretzels, mini-cheddar, bacon bits, and crackers stuffed with cheese spreads.  You can also create a snack box by filling compartments with cheese portions, raisins, a variety of nuts, and peanuts for them to choose their favourites from and mix and match a variety of options.

Make supper super

If your child has been snacking throughout the day on healthy, light meals, you can be more flexible when it comes to dinner options. Develop a family supper-time menu that involves your young ones’ input but try sneaking blended vegetables into cottage pie, stews, sauces, or meatballs. Allow your youngster to serve themselves; they can decide the dinner portion’s size based on how hungry they feel.