Raising An Adventurous Eater
Have you ever heard the phrase, “You are what you eat”? Well, it’s true for kids too! Our bodies thrive when we provide them with a variety of nutritious, exciting foods.
Kids need to eat 5-6 times a day
Children are constantly growing and playing, so they need a lot of energy! Children need to eat something every 2-3 hours, or 5-6 times a day. That’s three meals and 2 or 3 snacks a day! That makes for dozens of opportunities for discovering new foods in a single week. The early years are the best time to shape your child’s taste buds.
Introduce a variety of unusual flavors
Introduce a variety of unusual flavors to expand your child’s palate and establish good nutritional habits. With a variety of foods comes a variety of vitamins and minerals to help your child grow big and strong. Serve wholesome foods like fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole grains, and avoid sugary snacks like chips, cookies, and candy. Let your child help choose these foods in the grocery store, mix new flavors with familiar favorites, and be patient. It may take several tries (maybe dozens of tries!) for a child to accept a unique flavor. As we tell our little ones, “you don’t like it yet.”
Have kids eat what you’re eating
Have kids eat with you at the table, and serve them the same foods you eat (cut up and mashed if necessary). Children are prone to follow your example, so be a good role model and eat the foods you want them to learn to love. Try not to skip meals and when possible have everyone eat at a dinner table. Try and always serve and eat food in the same place in the house which will help avoid mindless eating while playing or watching TV.
Puffs come in a variety of flavors to expand your child’s palate.
Littlemore puffs come in 3 flavors which can help your little one learn to love savory flavors like sunflower butter, tomato, and garden pea. They are bursting with simple yet nutrition-packed ingredients, and never contain added salt or sugar. Puffs are perfect for snack time and on the go, which means an easy, wholesome option for your kids that you don’t have to prepare. Win-win!
Remember, when thinking about teaching your little ones about the benefits of wholesome, nutritious foods, it’s important to eat these foods alongside your children. Have them help pick out nutritious foods, and offer a wide variety of flavors. If they want to taste something, let them! Our little ones regularly sample uncooked veggies as we are chopping them for dinner. Lean into their curiosity about food and you might be surprised at what they enjoy!
We hope these suggestions help you and your children grow into adventurous eaters!
From our families to yours,
Joana + Lauren