Kids Eat Right!

Like many families, mine has nutritional challenges.   We have children with anaphylactic peanut and tree nut allergies, another child with a specific dietary intolerance that eliminates an entire food group, one child who chooses not to eat any dairy with the exception of milk, and a husband who doesn’t enjoy shellfish .

As if all of these issues aren’t enough to contend with, our toddler is still on the fence about bacon (yes, bacon!). To make things even more complex, my husband and I both work, our kids range in age from 3-15, we balance other parents homes, boarding school, team and club sports, and so much more. So how do we feed our kids?

I use the same resources I’ve referred to here. Also, we have dinner favorites that everyone enjoys. When cooking a new dinner for our family, I aim to please 3 of our 6. I always offer a big bowl of pasta, fresh sliced fruit and vegetables, and yogurt as dinner alternates. 

In addition, the advice of introducing a child to a new food at least 15 times is one to follow. In our family, I joke that it has taken me 15 years to get my son to eat eggs.

Despite always having them in the house and using them in meal prep and cooking daily, he began eating eggs after a friend, who is a highly credentialed personal trainer, recommended them as a source of protein. Sometimes food choices don’t come from parents. Don’t stop trying! Use smaller portions – not larger than a tablespoon when introducing a new food to a child – over, and over again.

Another approach that has worked extremely well for our family is the 20 minute family dinner. As a newer, blended family we are still trying hard to encourage time when we can all be together to share and grow. Meal times have been an ideal opportunity. Are these dinners relaxing and easy? Not always, and most of the time they are downright chaotic. However, we talk with our kids and model the best nutrition for them.

So, as promised (and in addition to “www.kidseatright.org“), here are the best food and nutrition websites for kids:

www.mealmakeovermoms.com
www.realmomnutrition.com
www.fearlessfeeding.com
www.superkidsnutrition.com
www.spatulatta.com