The Chicken Nugget Generation

For the past 3 years I've been on a mission to get my kids to eat healthy foods. I must admit it hasn't be easy. My 8 year old is really picky, my 4 year old hates anything green, and my 2 year old could live sweets alone. But still I push good food their way consistently and I must say it's starting to pay off. They will actually eat veggies now and try new foods.

I was recently reading a great book about Optimum Nutrition for children and it really cements my believes that children (and adults) need good, wholesome food to nourish their minds and bodies. Too many kids nowadays survive on a diet of chicken nuggets and fries and although they seem okay now what will happen 20 years down the road?

My children have friends who don't know what a kiwi or mango is, kids who only eat a diet consisting of a handful of foods (and not good ones). Now don't get me wrong, I'm not extreme. My children do have the occasional Mc Donalds, cakes, sweets, etc. I think to ban these foods altogether isn't a good thing either as they will only want them more. What I try to do is make the large part of their meals healthy and nutritious so that the occasional treat won't do any harm.

Now most kids won't happily eat tons of veggies but when it comes to feeding them healthy foods I'll resort to some very sneaky extremes. Processed veggies will go undetected in spaghetti sauce. Ground seeds and nuts can easily be added to homemade muffins. Smoothies are always an easy way to add an extra serving or two of fruit to their diets and if they don't like smoothies turn them into frozen popsicles instead.

It may take a while but by consistently adding fresh, nutritious foods to your child's diet you will see results.