Healthy Eating Habits

Parents and other caregivers play a very important role in helping determine the food choices that children make. Often kids will select a particular food out of habit, and if they've learned to make the right choices early on, this will likely help shape their food choices into adulthood.

Here are some ways to get your family to eat healthy:

• Spice it up with a little variety — the more choices you offer your children, the more likely they are to enjoy a larger variety of food.
• Limit the number of high-fat, high-calorie, or sugary foods you serve at home. Don't think you have to go cold turkey. Just gradually reduce the chips, cookies, and other treats you buy, replacing them with healthier choices.
• Make eating healthy fun. Food that is visually appealing can be more fun to eat — be creative.
• Keep fresh fruit and vegetables washed and ready to eat in the refrigerator to encourage your children to reach for celery before chips.
• Have the children help make the grocery list and take them to the store with you. Analyze the nutrition lables together.

Fast Family Food
Feel like you're too busy to cook? Forget fast food — there are plenty of meals you can make quickly at home that are also healthy. Get started by making these fun, easy, and healthy recipes together as a family:

• Breakfast Banana Smoothie
• Chicken Noodle Soup
• Creamy Fruit & Vegetable Dip
• Oven-Baked Cheese Fries
• Chicken Crunchers
• Sandwich Waffles
• Easy Macaroni & Cheese
• Sloppy Joes
• Munchy Crunchy Trail Mix
• Pocket Apple Pie
• Turkey and Ham Pinwheels
• Caramel Corn
  

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