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We know what it's like—you prepare a well-balanced, nutritious meal for your kids, only to have them turn up their noses at the veggies. Before you give up and head for the McDonald's drive-thru, consider this: With a little know-how—and patience—you can instill healthy habits in your children. We've talked to some of today's leading nutrition experts and learned real-life tricks for sneaking in good-for-you foods at home, at school—and yes, even at fast-food joints. Start With Yourself "Parents need to be role models," says Jennifer Shu, MD, coauthor of Food Fights. Let your kids see you snacking on fruit and filling up your plate with nutritious food—it'll be easier for them to follow by example. Stop the Sweets Help your kids acquire a taste for healthy foods by limiting sugary treats and not introducing them to sweets at a young age. "Children are born with a sweet tooth," explains Dr. Shu. "It's a survival mechanism because breast milk is sort of sweet. Kids tend to retain it, especially if you introduce sweet foods early." Keep Trying It can take several tries before a kid starts to like a food, so if they don't like something the first time, bring it back around another day. "It can take up to 10 exposures for kids' taste buds to change," explains Felicia Stoler, a dietician and host of Honey We're Killing the Kids! "Just one bite." One way to make sure kids try healthy foods they may not like initially: Have them take what Dr. Shu calls "'No, thank you' bites." In other words, once your child has taken a bite of something she doesn't want to try, she may say, "No, thank you" and leave the rest. Click here for more tips on raising healthy eaters from Woman’s Day. More from Woman’s Day:What steps are your taking to teach healthy habits in your children? What challenges do you face? |
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