If your kid thinks the best food comes prepackaged with a cartoon mascot, mealtimes can be a battle of the wills — and waistlines. With obesity rates rising among the younger set, it’s vital to encourage kids to lay off the junk food. Help your child make peace with lima beans and broccoli — and indulge her inner artist — by creating a collage of nutritious veggies, fruit, and whole grains. Make sure to include stuff she already likes (naturally sweet strawberries, perhaps?) so that she can see healthy food won’t just nourish her body but delight her taste buds!
What you’ll need
- Magazines, preferably cooking and food publications
- Cardboard or poster board
- Scissors
- Glue or a glue stick
How to do it
Ask your child what healthy foods she likes to eat, and look through the magazines together to find pictures of those vegetables, fruit, or grains. While you’re at it, encourage her to pick out items she’s less enthusiastic about and explain why those are good to include in her diet as well. Help her cut out the images and glue them on the cardboard to create a collage. Try arranging items by color or food group for an extra brain boost. Don’t forget to hang her mouthwatering masterpiece on the fridge or in the kitchen as an easy reminder of what foods are best to eat. Looking for dietary recommendations? Check out these tips from the American Heart Association.
