When it comes to one of the things that most parents complain about being difficult when raising their kids is eating healthy foods. Try as they might to buy organic products, cook them meals fit for a king, and plead with them to eat everything on their plate, dinner time can be a huge argument every day.
Rather than allowing meal time to be something that you dread rather than look forward to and stress less about whether your kids are getting the nutrition that they require to grow big and strong. Here are some of the best tips to follow in order to get them to stop fighting you at dinner time.
Lead By Example
It’s important to practice what you preach when it comes to being a parent. When you are telling your kids to do something but they see you doing the opposite, it’s something which will cause them to rebel against you. Instead, practice what you preach and do what you expect them to do.
Your kids will start to lose respect for what you think and say if you don’t lead by example and do what you say is the right thing to do. This isn’t just limited to eating your veggies either.
Mix In Sauce
Sometimes the best way to talk them into eating their veggies is by not talking them into it at all. You can often mix vegetables pureed into a sauce that you pour over pasta or a rice dish which is virtually undetected.
Once you determine that they love it you can spill the beans that there are actually vegetables in there. Surprise! You love vegetables!
Create a Sticker Chart
Giving your kids a sticker chart which awards them with a sticker for each time that they do something good like finishing everything on their plate can encourage them to work towards goals.
By accumulating enough good behavior stickers, they can win a privilege or object of their choice. This is a great incentive to make you happy and to do their best.
Don’t Make Vegetables a Punishment
Some parents are guilty of ordering their children to eat vegetables instead of a treat if they misbehave. However, the mindset that this creates is that vegetables are associated with punishment rather than being a reward.
Teaching kids that vegetables are no different from treats will ensure that they don’t see veggies in a negative light.
Involve Them In Cooking Time
Making your kids feel like they’re involved in preparing the meals can make them more enthusiastic about what they eat. When they feel like they’re the ones who have created it, then they’re more inclined to try new things.