By KimD

As a parent, you do everything you can to keep your children safe, healthy and happy. However, one of the most frustrating aspects of keeping children healthy for many parents relates to their diet and nutrition. In an ideal world, your children may love to eat fruits and vegetables, and they may shy away from eating fatty, sugary foods. Some parents are lucky enough to have children with this type of diet and palate, but you may be included in the group of parents with kids who love sweets and who think chicken nuggets and potato chips are delicious food choices. If you are scratching your head trying to find ways to encourage children to eat healthy, there are a few ideas to consider.

Dress Up Healthy Foods

One great idea is to dress up healthy foods so that they taste better for kids. For example, you can combine low-fat yogurt and fresh fruit in a blender to create a smoothie. You can also create a delicious casserole that has numerous vegetables mixed in with lean meat, low-fat cheese or other healthy items. Some kids will eat healthy foods plain, but others may need them dressed up in different dishes before they will touch them. These are just a few of the unique ways you can consider making the foods more appealing to your children.

Make Healthy Foods Fun

You can also make healthy foods fun to eat. For example, you can make fruit kabobs on skewers, or you can give kids frozen all-natural juice popsicles as a cool sweet treat in the summer. Finger foods with dipping sauces are often fun, and you can make your own chicken nuggets, use high fiber crackers with healthy dips and more.

Substitute Ingredients

Another great idea is to substitute unhealthy ingredients with healthier options when preparing meals and snacks. For example, you can substitute honey ham in a sandwich with lean turkey meat. You can also substitute ground turkey for hamburger meat in everything from tacos to spaghetti sauce, and children may never know the difference. Low fat cheeses, chips, crackers and much more are also available, and they give kids the same flavors they love in a healthier version. You can experiment with different options to see which ones your children love.

Getting children to eat healthy can be frustrating, but it is not impossible. Through these tips, your children may enjoy eating healthier foods.