It seems to be a constant struggle at our house: healthy eating! I take full responsibility for my girls’ pickiness since it’s a learned behavior. And because my girls see their mother more often with a cupcake in her hand, rather than a stick of asparagus, it’s not a surprise to me. However, I decided it’s time to nip it in the bud!
First of all, we talked about our strong, healthy bodies, and all the amazing things we can do with them! Then, of course, there were demonstrations:
Then the discussion: strong bodies need healthy food…what foods are considered healthy? My girls are visual learners, and hands-on activities work best, so instead of me spouting off the nutritional benefits of green beans versus a green jelly bean (what are my credentials anyway?), I decided to have them create two posters – one of “good” foods, and the other with “NOT-so-good-for-you” foods.
I pulled out the grocery store mailers, food magazines, and catalogs, and gave instructions for them to start cutting out the different pictures of food, based on our two categories.
They went to town on those magazines!
C8 soon found other uses for the scissors…
But we eventually finished with an end product of which they were very proud!
And now, with each of them posted in the kitchen, and Ad’s newfound perspective of good/bad foods, I’ve been put in my place multiple times. Someone’s got to keep me in line!
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
So, where is the poster of bad foods? Both posters look good to me!
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Camille Reply:
April 7th, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Maybe we should have categorized it as “good food” and “better for you foods”…
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I love it!! We have a poster of the food guide pyramid in our pantry. When My kids are hungry, they literally check out the pyramid for ideas. It works like a charm. Even when I have little kids over, like my 2 and 5 year old niece and nephew, they see the chart and say, “I’m hungry for a banana!”.
And of course, I must add we teach using the Healthy Kids plate! It shows them that half their meal should come from fruits and veggies.
http://www.healthykidsplate.com
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Camille Reply:
April 7th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
Amy, that’s brilliant! I’ve been wanting to do something similar… I may just have to adopt your ideas
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I try teaching them that the “bad” foods are “sometimes” foods. I think moderation is key. If you tell me or my 7 year old that we can never have a brownie again I think there would be tears!
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Camille Reply:
April 7th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
Amy, I hear you! Believe me, we’re not cutting out the “bad” foods altogether, just trying to steer away from requesting cookies for dinner!
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I haven’t done it, but a good friend of mine highly recommends planting a garden with your kids. When they are involved, they are more interested in what it produces.
Also, to eat healthier, don’t bring something home from the grocery store that you don’t want on your hips!
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Camille Reply:
April 7th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Whitney, I love the idea of the garden! Appreciation for good food AND hard work!
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That is so cute!!
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That’s a great idea. Thanks for the tips.
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Love this cute idea!
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Such a great idea! And…I love that I just spotted the Shirley J catalog…and it looks like it made it onto a poster too.
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Camille Reply:
April 28th, 2011 at 10:48 am
Your catalog was a HIT! Talk about so many pictures of great food!
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