| Help you and your kid's follow the food | | | | imagination flow when cooking for your |
| pyramid by avoiding fast food and unhealthy | | | | kids!Getting Your Kid's To Eat The FoodGet |
| food choices.With the fast food restaurant | | | | your child active in helping prepare lunch or |
| down the street, it can be a tempting | | | | dinner. Let them set the table and prepare |
| convenience, but an unhealthy food choice for | | | | the food for cooking. This will give them a |
| your family. It is getting harder and harder | | | | sense of accomplishment and hopefully will |
| to please families with whatever type of | | | | give them the incentive to eat at the table. |
| meals you cook. Even packing lunches can be a | | | | Mixing great flavor and color into your meals |
| struggle - the fruit and veggies get thrown | | | | will get the kid's excited. We suggest trying |
| out, while all that's left of the chocolate | | | | "Make-Your-Own" Taco Kit, which gives kid's |
| treat is the wrapper. Here, we give you tips | | | | their own hands on food experimenting. |
| on following the food pyramid, cutting down | | | | Forcing kid's to eat their food is not the |
| on sweets and giving your kids healthy food | | | | answer either. I have found that lots of |
| tips for life.The Food PyramidThe food | | | | children's eating habits are from habit and |
| pyramid is a recommended guide to how many | | | | conditioning, too. Just imagine the |
| different food groups should be consumed each | | | | nutritional impact you will be showing your |
| day. Many people and parents do not even know | | | | child by eating healthy yourself.Set a Limit |
| the proper amount of servings they should | | | | to the Junk FoodAllowing your child to eat |
| feed their kid's. As concerned parents, your | | | | the odd chip bag or chocolate bag is okay. |
| child should follow this food guide for | | | | They are most likely not to complain or throw |
| healthy eating:Dairy: 2-3 servings | | | | tantrums as much. Remember, always give them |
| | | | small portions of junk food. Tell your |
| Meat: 2-3 servings | | | | children that sugars can be found naturally |
| | | | in fruit. A great snack idea is to chop up |
| Fruit: 2-4 servings | | | | the child's favorite fruit into a bowl of |
| | | | milk. Sprinkle a tiny bit of sugar over and |
| Vegetables: 3-5 servings | | | | eat with a spoon. Replace potato chips with |
| | | | trail mix, peanuts, popcorn or pretzels. Chop |
| Grain: 6 to 11 servingsSpice It UpA long | | | | up veggies and serve with dip. There are many |
| time ago, healthy eating was dreaded at the | | | | optional ideas that the kid's will love.There |
| dinner table. Thanks to new food inventions | | | | are some nights in people's hectic life's |
| and creative new chef's, new seasonings and | | | | when there is absolutely no time to cook |
| flavors can be added to almost any food | | | | dinner. This is when fast food comes in. |
| recipe. Adding extra seasoning to bland food | | | | Although fast food is fast, the food doesn't |
| can make a huge difference with cooking | | | | usually come with it. Try a healthier food |
| healthy recipes for your children. Also, | | | | stop such as Subway, Extreme Pita or Tim |
| kid's love fun and different recipes. Plain | | | | Horton's. If you end up in McDonald's, order |
| peanut butter and jelly sandwiches aren't as | | | | small proportions. Keeping these trips to a |
| appealing as sandwiches cut into little | | | | minimum can help you enjoy at least one small |
| animals or shapes. Let your creative and | | | | fries. Savor and enjoy every last bite. |