Tips for Diversifying Children's Diets

 

• Get children involved in the kitchen

  • Wash fruit and vegetables

  • Measure ingredients

  • Tear lettuce for salad

  • Cut vegetables

  • Help set table

 

• Let children help in planning the meals

 

• Take children grocery shopping at the store or farmer’s market

 

• Add healthy foods when you can (i.e. broccoli to mac and cheese)

 

• Don’t buy food you don’t want your children to eat

 

• Make meals fun

  • Use cookie cutters for varying shapes

  • Offer “taco night” model meals

  • Toothpicks/party picks

  • Food art

  • Use an ice cream scooper to serve rice, mashed potatoes

 

• Keep healthy snacks convenient and accessible

 

• Eat meals as a family

 

• Let children make a beautiful vegetable platter to serve

 

• Use dips- ie. Bean dip, guacamole, hummus