Nutrition For Kids: Five ways to instill a love of real food
We believe it’s never too early to start talking about nutrition with your kids. A love of real food is first born in the home and can set children up to choose healthier options for the rest of their lives. Here are our five favorite ways to instill that love of real food:
1. Make it simple
Whole foods don’t come with complicated food labels or confusing serving sizes. Introducing real food should be as simple as the food itself. Remember fresh fruits and vegetables come pre-portioned! We define real food as such: food that is naturally occurring, not denatured, nutrient-dense, and unrefined. That means a plate of freshly scrambled eggs (from pasture-raised hens) can be a great source of real food that is often quicker to whip up than a box of mac n’ cheese. Make meal planning easy by simply choosing a protein, starch or carbohydrate, and a vegetable to prepare instead of a complicated recipe.
2. Get cooking
Bring your children into the kitchen to watch, help, or taste-test as you cook throughout the day. Watching you prepare their food will give them a greater sense of appreciation once their plate has been served. You can also use that time to talk about what you’re making and why you’ve chosen those foods. For older kids, this is a great time to come alongside you and practice basic knife skills or help by rinsing vegetables. The more involved your kids can be in the cooking process, the deeper they’ll understand our connection to food and how it can nourish our bodies.
3. Get close to your food source
Shopping at your local grocery store is great for weekly hauls or quick trips. Unfortunately, the giant buildings with food-lined isles have disconnected us from local farmers, bakeries, and butchers. Try to weave in opportunities to get closer to your food source by visiting a farmers market, a local farm, or join a CSA (community-supported agriculture) program. Visit a butcher shop and discuss the variety of meats available or better yet, raise chickens of your own and collect your own eggs! Any small step to connect you and your family to how and where your food is grown is a great way to build an appreciation for real food.
4. Make dining out count
Eating at a restaurant? Look for establishments who have intentionally sourced their food and use your buying power for good! There are plenty of farm-to-table eateries around the country who are working hard to support local farmers. When you dine in at one of these restaurants, you’re supporting the local economy and better nourishing your body with whole, local foods prepared by people who care about their impact on the world.
5. Encourage food freedom
Since real food comes in all forms (protein, fat, carbohydrates, etc) there’s no need to demonize food groups. When you focus on the quality of your ingredients, you can actually be satisfied eating foods that society has deemed “unhealthy” knowing you’ve compiled a dish with well-rounded nutrition in mind. For example: craving cheese burgers and fries? Great! Source local grass-fed beef, top it with full-fat cheese made with organic or non-processed milk, and stack high with fresh vegetables! You can skip the bun or pick one made from organic wheat or sprouted grains. Finish the dish off with freshly fried russet or sweet potatoes in duck fat or coconut oil. True food freedom comes when we realize our food is not inherently good or bad. It is either high-quality and nutrient-dense, or low quality and nutrient-lacking. Take the guilt out of eating by choosing high-quality real food and you won’t have to fret over your food choices again!