We hope you enjoy these 5 tips for teaching kids about their 5 a day!
We all know why we should be eating our five a day (vitamins, minerals, fibre, and antioxidants to boost our health and help fight off disease), and so it's a no-brainer that we need to teach our kids this importance and make sure they eat their five a day.
Inadequate or improper types of nutrition can lead to childhood obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, prediabetes and further issues in adulthood.
And food is the first type of medicine after all.
But if only it was that simple!
Kids aren't as attracted to fruits and vegetables as they are to treat foods like biscuits, cakes and candy, and so getting them to eat a healthy, balanced diet can often be a battle.
But we're here to tell you that eating their five a day doesn't have to be stressful, and to inspire you with fun ways to teach your kids the importance of getting their recommended daily amount of fruits and veggies.
5 tips for teaching kids about their 5 a day
First thing's first; the phrase '5 a day' is actually a misnomer because there's no limit on the amount of tasty fruits and veg your children can enjoy.
But let's not get too ambitious!
Here are some tips for teaching kids about their 5 a day.
- Be a role model: Kids pick up their good habits, and their bad ones, from their parents. So it's important that you set healthy standards, especially when it comes to food and diet. If you want your children to eat plenty of fruit and veg, then you need to do that too. You should be setting this healthy example from as soon as they start weaning so that they grow understanding the importance of their 5 a day and also accustomed to the tastes and textures of a wide variety of fruits and veggies.
- Stock up on healthy foods: If you don't want your kids turning to sugary snacks and foods then you simply can't have them in the cupboards. We're not saying you can never enjoy a treat! Balance is key. But treats should be reserved for special occasions and generally speaking, your kitchen should be stocked full of fruits and vegetables. lean meats, and whole-grain breads and cereals. A top tip is to ensure the little ones can reach some healthy snacks themselves.
- Use fruit and vegetables as ingredients: This is a great way to teach kids that eating your 5 a day can be fun. You can use zucchinis and carrots to make bread, make veggie-based soups, try vegetable noodles, cauliflower pizza, or just blend everything into a yummy smoothie.
- Involve kids in the process: Make it fun by involving your kids in choosing what to make for dinner for example. Maybe you could make a colour chart to explain to them what ratios of each food group needs to be on their plates, and then have fun deciding what to make.
- Make fruit and veggies fun add-ons: The carbohydrates in fruit and vegetables are great sources of energy. So why not combine them with a serving of protein - like a piece of cheese, a cup of yogurt, or a tablespoon of peanut butter - and use them as healthy lunchbox snacks?
Healthy doesn't have to mean boring and it's essential that you set teach that lesson to your kids from an early age.
The secret to ensuring they get their 5 a day without the drama is to encorporate fruit and veggies at every meal and snack.