Cooking Healthy Meals for Kids: Veggies Can Be Delish!
One common excuse personal trainers in NYC often hear from parents who aren’t eating healthy goes something like this: “I can’t get my kids to eat vegetables, whole grains, or anything else remotely healthy.” That is often followed up by something that goes like this: “and I can’t afford to cook two separate meals. Who has the time for that anyway?”
It seems a lot of people interested in weight loss programs in NYC want to get healthy. They know that they need to start consuming more fruits and vegetables and less fast food to do that, but turning around the eating habits of children to make it happen for the entire family is extremely challenging.
If you relate to these common complaints, you are like many others who turn to help and advice from personal trainers in NYC. The following tips are simple and straightforward answers to the problem.
No child is immune to healthy eating. You just have to approach the switch from fries to veggies in an appealing manner.
Make it Look Good
If you just hand a child a couple carrot sticks they are likely to turn their nose up and scream “I don’t like it!” The solution to this is to give them a combination of fruits and vegetables that with different colors.
Some examples might include:
• Fresh homemade fruit salad with strawberries, blueberries, apples, and cubed peaches.
• Individual veggie platters with cucumber slices, carrots, and grape tomatoes. Include an organic, natural dressing on the side for dipping fun.
Healthy Substitutions Go Undetected
One piece of advice frequently handed out by personal trainers in NYC to parent clients goes something like this: “You don’t always have to tell them they are eating healthy.” Try to select healthier substitutions for the foods your children like most.
What exactly defines healthy? This short list will tell you what to look for:
• 100% whole grains (pasta, bread, etc.)
• Organic foods
• Hormone-free meats
• Raw produce
The goal is to give the kids foods as close to their natural state as possible. You do this without telling them by making simple substitutions. For instance, make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with 100% whole grain bread, natural peanut butter, and perhaps fruit preserves with natural sweeteners.
Most kids won’t even notice the changes and those that do will adjust quickly. Parents following weight loss programs in NYC can even use this strategy to get healthier foods into their own diet without feeling deprived.
Sweet N’ Natural
Stop using the packaged sweeteners and switch to some of these much healthier, natural options:
• Nu Stevia
• Blue Agave Syrup
• Brown Rice Syrup
• Dates
If you can make your own applesauce or sauce from other fresh fruits, you can use that as a natural sweetener when baking. Since these ingredients are sweet and natural they allow you to create sweets for your children without contributing to the worldwide childhood obesity epidemic.
It is especially beneficial to switch from the sugary drinks kids love to drinks that are healthier and inspired by pure water. You may be able to create your own drinks with the above listed natural sweeteners or experiment with fresh fruit smoothies and hide some veggies in the mix.
Personal trainers in NYC hear parents complaining all the time about the eating habits of their children. You may be able to relate, but now you have the tools to turn it all around for your kids.
Sign up for your 50% Off Introductory Session by calling (212) 255-5842 or visit our website at www.methodfitness.com
