Encouraging your children to eat healthy has to be one of the biggest challenges when it comes to motherhood. There is this constant battle between nourishing your child the right way and giving in to things that are quick and easy!

Nourishing your children doesn’t have to be hard and with these tips and tricks family dinners can be more enjoyable for everyone.

1. Meal plan! Every Saturday I plan my meals and then order them through Kroger’s click list. Click list is so important because it keeps you in budget and it prevents you from buying unhealthy foods at the store. We have all been there when your kids are crying and you give them an unhealthy snack so they will cooperate.
2. Disguise the taste of healthy food. We love Biena Chickpea puffs because they are gluten-free, taste like chips, but filled with vegetable protein! The buffalo is my favorite flavor. Shop here on Amazon. My kids think they are eating chips and do not know they are eating something healthy. Instead of pasta try chickpea pasta. Instead of candy try grapes!
3. Stand your ground. I think the hardest thing about being a mom is just making Grayson and Annslee Kate whatever they want instead of having them eat the things I cook. Positive reinforcement is always the way to go so keep a reward chart! If your kid tries at least one new food a night he gets a star. 20 stars equals a prize. Praise them when they eat healthy foods!
4. Make healthy snacks easily accessible. I like to place apple slices, grapes, and carrot sticks on the bottom shelf door on the fridge. You want to teach your kids independence and this is the best way. I provide places all in the kitchen that they have access to so that they can grab cups, drinks, and food on their own without my help. It’s a win/win.
5. Include them in the cooking process. Grayson loves to make eggs. This is one food he knows how to cook start to finish and he loves it! He also knows how to whip up his own salad.
6. Give them choices. No one likes to be told what they have to eat. I have nightmares from a baby sitter forcing me to eat oatmeal. I haven’t been a big fan of oatmeal my whole entire life because of that. So I told Grayson you can eat the cauliflower on your plate or the sweet potato. Which one would you like?

At the end of the day, it’s up to us as moms to lead by example. If they see how much we love eating healthy foods then they will learn from us. Never force your kids to eat things they don’t like but instead encourage and praise them when they eat food that nourishes them.

Hopefully this blog post made dinner a little bit more enjoyable,

Abraidedblonde