Fun Activities that Instill Good Nutrition

Good nutritional habits during childhood plays a big influence on healthy lifestyle and eating choices as an adult.  Good nutrition can be taught to children at a very young age.  Even toddlers can learn about healthy food choices as they help wash fruit and learn basic kitchen and cooking safety lessons. 

It is important to include your children in cooking and food related activities throughout their childhood, not just to instill healthy eating habits, but also to develop essential self help skills in the kitchen.  These activities are great ways to keep older children involved in kitchen activities and to encourage good nutrition.

Make meal time fun.  Let your child help select themes for certain nights of the week and make the most of the themes.  For example, call taco night Fiesta Night.  Play Latin music, wear sombreros, shake maracas, or even learn a few Spanish words together to make meal time fun.  Restaurant night can be a nice family treat as well.  Let the kids help prepare a favorite meal, like spaghetti or pizza and have them prepare special menus for the night ahead of time.  Let the children dress the table with a nice table cloth and help in serving the food.  Don’t forget to light a candle!

Involve your child in the kitchen.  Give your child chores to help out with mealtimes, like setting or clearing the table, monitoring timers, or preparing fruits and vegetables.  Children can also be a part of the kitchen by making their own kitchen things.  Encourage your child to make family placemats or napkin rings from various materials or to create potholders with a creative weaving set. 

Let your child help plan the menus as well.  Discuss the food pyramid and encourage your child to develop a healthy menu for the week.  Look over the menu together and make any needed changes, then write a grocery list together.  Let your child help out at the grocery store as well and involve her in meal preparation whenever possible.

For a messy, but valuable cooking lesson, let your child choose a cake, cookie, or brownie recipe from an easy to understand cookbook.  Help him select the ingredients and allow him to prepare the cake on his own as the recipe says.  Help put the creation in the oven and let your child tell you when to take it out.  Enjoy a taste together and discuss the results.

Grow a garden with your child.  Help her select nutritional vegetables to grow and put her in charge of watering, weeding, and caring for the plants.  Grow a couple new vegetables to taste together as well.  Use the homegrown vegetables for sandwiches and dinner recipes your child can help prepare.

Let everyone make their own pizza and use it as an opportunity to discuss healthy foods and good nutrition.  Discuss the things that make pizza unhealthy, like an extra thick crust, lots of cheese, and greasy meats like pepperoni and then talk about healthier options, like thin crust, low-fat cheese, and vegetables.  Provide an assortment of toppings and encourage your child to make a healthier pizza.

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