What’s for lunch? Head to Vince’s Market…
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It’s been a gorgeous summer here in Ontario….and most parents are happy to send the kids back to school. But with the fall routine, comes the stress of packing lunches and cooking dinners.
We want our kids to have a foundation of healthy eating and healthy habits for life. So what stands in the way? Here are the most common challenges I hear from parents – and the solutions! |
#1 – Lack of time to cook – With the hectic life that we all lead, there seems to be little time to fit it all in. But cooking a healthy dinner often takes the same or less time than ordering in food. A little planning goes a long way – try to do a meal and lunch plan for the week and do one complete grocery run so that you have everything that you have. Check out this link for free meal planning charts. http://www.vertex42.com/ExcelTemplates/meal-planner.html
#2 – I don’t know what foods to choose – Eating healthy can be overwhelming, but the rules are simple. Eat whole foods, minimally processed, and with ingredients that you can understand. A whole foods diet emphasizes good quality vegetables, fruit, lean meats, eggs and dairy, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.
#3 – No time in the morning – Pack your lunches the night before and involve the kids. Pack a healthy lunch for yourself too! By setting the example of healthy eating, you expose your kids to good role modeling after all; they want to be just like you!
#4 – My kids are picky eaters – Give kids several healthy options to choose from – like fruits, trail mix, healthy cookies. By letting them choose, they will feel involved and be more willing to eat. Pay attention to what they like, not just want they don’t like. Maybe they love apples but hate bananas, so start with apples and work on variety gradually. By exposing them to different tastes when they are young, they will be more likely to fall back on these eating habits when they are older.
#5 – My kids only want junk food – Go with the 80/20 rule here. Give your children healthy meals and options 80% of the time, but also give them time and opportunities for treats or pizza lunches. This will help them develop a balanced and healthy attitude towards eating.
#6 – Big kids need help too! University and college kids need healthy food too! The cafeterias are laden with fast food chains, so it’s easy to fall into bad eating habits and gain weight. Don’t forget to send them to school with home cooked dinners, fruits and healthy snacks.
As you prepare for school, take the opportunity to implement healthy meal planning. With these solutions to common healthy eating hurdles - you will help your children (both young and old) establish healthy habits for life.
I’d love to get your feedback! How do you deal with these challenges?
Until next time,
Stephanie
