Tips On Getting Children To Enjoy Healthy Eating

Children Love To Help
Children have an inherent passion for gardening, harvesting, and preparing foods straight from the earth. Hence, the mud pies they will inevitably make if you give them a puddle of mud to tinker with. This is an instinct most adults have neglected for so long we’ve forgotten it altogether. Let your children help you prepare meals. They may not be able to chop vegetables if they are younger, but even the youngest child will delight in dropping foods into the food processor, blender, juicer, mixing them in a bowl, or arranging them in the dehydrator. Helping gives children a sense of pride, allows for one on one attention from parents, and they will naturally want to taste their creations.

Children Won’t Starve Themselves!
If you don’t buy it, they can’t eat it. If your children eat junk on a daily basis, it is because you are supplying them with it. I’ve heard so many people say, “But my kids won’t eat vegetables!” Yes they will. Only offer them healthy foods, if they refuse to eat them put their plate in the fridge. The next time they say they are hungry offer them their plate and say, “this is what’s for dinner” (or whatever meal). If they still refuse it, put it back. Offer it over and over until eventually they eat it (and they WILL). No child has ever hated healthy foods so much they would actually starve themselves. Eventually they will accept the new foods. Their tastes will change and they will come to enjoy them.

Follow Their Instincts
Our bodies are intelligent. They know what they need and they speak to us. Listen to what your children request to eat. If they ask for a healthy food, give it to them and let them eat their fill of it. If all they want is bananas all day, there is good reason for it, and there is certainly no harm in it. You may be surprised what you learn about your children’s (and your own) health and instincts if you research the fruits and vegetables they commonly crave.

Be A Good Example
No one wants to follow a hypocrite. If they see you eating cookies, they are going to feel cheated. Children will follow whatever example you set for them, good or bad. So set a good one. If you MUST abuse your own body, do it out of sight of your kids.

Expect Withdrawal and Detoxification Symptoms
Many people believe it is bad to eat fruit because too much fruit will give you gas and diarrhea. This is a myth. Fruits are detoxifying foods. Our digestive tracts are so backed up with denatured garbage that we WILL have elimination symptoms (released gas and fecal matter) when we begin eating mostly fruits. This will only last a week or two, at which point you will no longer have stomach upsets and will be more regular than you may have been your entire life. Children love fruit. Don’t limit them, they know what their bodies need.
You will likely deal with some tantrums when you begin refusing to give them the foods they’ve come to depend on (fruit snacks, sugary treats, crispy potatoes, greasy and grilled meats, white breads, pasteurized dairy products, etc.) These foods are highly addictive, you’re children will experience very real withdrawal symptoms. Offer them an abundance of healthy foods to assist their bodies in detoxification. Fresh fruits will help to curb their sweet cravings. It will pass.

Be Diligent
Your children WILL eventually forget the denatured (cooked/processed) foods they used to eat and will come to love fruits vegetables, raw nuts and seeds. Give it time and don’t waver. Be patient with them, they are little people who cannot fully understand your intentions. Explain to them as best as you can, lovingly and repeatedly, that you love them and want them to be healthy so that they can be happy. It will all become second nature… eventually!