Most kids, especially toddlers are picky eaters. This is why mothers and other care providers struggle every day to add some food to their kid’s mouths. When your child is growing up, they need a proper and nutritious diet for healthy development. Lack of nutrition leads to anemia, poor growth, and laziness in kids and it may also affect their mental health.
If you are such a worrying parent who wants to improve the diet of their kids and ensure nutritional balance, then here are some effective tips that you can follow.
1. Make Vegetables Fun
Vegetables and fruits do not look appealing to kids, especially when you offer them boiled or steamed without any flavor. Think of kids as yourself. Just like you would never eat boiled broccoli, your toddler will not eat it either.
Make vegetables and fruit servings fun by plating them playfully. Use different cutters and themes to create a playful plate for your kid and encourage them to eat before their dinosaur eats them all.
2. Skip Flour With Whole Wheat
Start skipping refined flour and replace it with whole wheat flour. You should add more whole grains to your kids’ diet and avoid using starchy foods. Refined flour is fulfilling, however, it lacks nutrition.
You should always prefer the quality of food your kid is eating over the quantity. Therefore, add brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat bread, and other healthy options to your kid’s diet.
3. Add Lean Proteins
Proteins are essential for the healthy growth of muscles. If your kid is not eating meat and other protein options as they are, try incorporating them in other fun ways.
Every kid loves nuggets. Make homemade nuggets where you use good quality meat and other ingredients. Make them in different shapes to attract your kids.
4. Add Nutritious Snacks
When you offer snacks to your kids, prefer healthy options by keeping in mind quality over quantity. For instance, if you are making sandwiches, use kaiser rolls with sesame seeds on them. Sesame seeds may look small but they are packed with nutrition.
You can also incorporate other healthy snacking options, from a meal prep delivery service in Columbus, Ohio.
5. Never Skip Dairy Or Its Alternatives
Milk is essential for your kid’s growth. If your kid loves dairy, you should not skip dairy or dairy products in their diet. Use cheese, milk, butter, and other such items that attract your kid.
If your kid is lactose intolerant, you can explore non-dairy options such as almond milk or soy milk. Make smoothies or milkshakes with fruits, honey, and dry fruits to make them more nutritious.
6. Ensure Hydration
Make sure that your kid is drinking enough water during the daytime. Hydration is crucial when your kid is physically active or if they are playing outside for a long time.
Make sure that you offer plain water more often. Juicers are good but they contain sugar which is not good in large quantities.