Does your child eat healthy, or does he fill his stomach on junk food like French fries and colas? Here's how you can include some healthy foods into your child's diet.
Have you been trying to get your child to eat healthier by telling him how good fruits and vegetables are for him? You're not going to get anywhere by this reasoning. Telling him that he will grow big and strong like his daddy will only work for some time before your child realizes that he's not getting big and strong as soon as he'd like. So before you lose your cool and try and force food down his throat, try some of these options.
Banana
The next time your child feels like munching something, chop up a banana into slices, sprinkle some sugar over it and add a few drops of lime. This makes an incredibly delicious anytime snack. Try and substitute sugar with palm sugar or jaggery for an even healthier option. Adding sugar to bananas does make it very tasty, and although you'd rather do without it, think of this dish as a much better alternative to wafers! After all, its worth adding a little sugar if you can get your child to eat more fruit.
Vegetables
Does your child turn up his nose at vegetables? Try this. Grate or mash a bunch of vegetables together. Carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and potatoes are a good choice. Pat them into cutlets, dip in beaten egg and breadcrumbs and either grill or shallow fry them on a skillet with very little oil. Your child will not only eat a large bunch of vegetables, but he will also relish every bite!
Chapattis
If your child makes a face every time you want him to eat a chapatti, feed him daal dhoklis instead, which is nothing more than small rolled balls of aata or wheat in sweet and tangy toor daal.
Presentation
Children are big on visual appeal and presentation, and in this matter, they may very well be more discerning than the fussiest food critic. Often your child will turn his nose up at food that looks bad even if it doesn't taste so. This is why you will see your child reaching for those fancily packaged goodies at the supermarket. Pay attention to presentation when trying to feed your child. If you give your child food in his favourite plate, chances are higher that he will eat it.
Fruit
Every now and again, take a few chopped fruits and arrange them on a plate. Keep the plate and a fork next to your child. He will start eating from the pate without thinking. On the other hand, if you ask your child if he would like something to eat, and if he refuses, he will not eat it if you then serve it to him! So instead of testing your child's stubborn streak, try to work around it.
Children are often ravenous when they get back from school. Make sure you have a healthy treat waiting for them at this time. They will gobble it down.
