6. Show Kids How to Grow Food
Many local growers are happy to share the farming experience with young children if you call ahead of time. Take a trip to your local farmer's market where you will often find fun activities for kids. Children are more likely to eat fruit or vegetables that they have grown and picked themselves. Use a planter, or assign a small piece of your yard to start your own private garden. You can begin with tomatoes and build from there.
7. Sing and Dance to Good Food Songs
Find songs with lyrics that promote healthy eating and an active lifestyle. If you can't find music in your local retail store, there are some great offerings available for young children online. Music CDs like Smart & Tasty, Bon Appetite, Groovin' Foods, or Smart Fruit & Veggie Songs, can be found with a simple internet search. Be prepared to pass the potato, count the bananas, scissor kick your celery sticks, interact with your children, have fun, and basically act like a fool. If you don't have access to music, make up silly, rhyming rhythmic chants about new foods.
8. Explore Healthy Foods Through Books
Find coloring books or read books that introduce fruits and vegetables as characters, or have interesting stories that revolve around healthy foods. Books such as I Will Not Ever Eat a Tomato, Counting Pumpkins, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Food for Thought, and Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z make for some great fun and educational reading. A quick and easy resource for nutrition and health education books for children is found at NeatSolutions.
9. Plan a Craft Activity
Let your child design something artistic such as a paper craft that can be proudly displayed on the refrigerator, pasta art on a plate, or a personalized placemat that can be laminated for repeated use. Some web pages offer free downloadable or printable activities that engage children. Search for your favorites or visit 5aday, Dole, and Nutrition Explorations for some interesting offerings.
10. Play Fun Games That Involve Healthy Eating
Children who have fun with healthy foods are more likely to want to taste them. Instead of "Duck, Duck, Goose," play "Grape, Grape, Juice." Play target practice by tossing play foods into grocery paper bags. Let your children select from their play food and serve you a nutritious meal.
Play verbal "I spy a color" games and board games that promote healthy eating and educate young children about good food choices. The Produce for Better Health Foundation offers "The Fruit and Veggie Race" board game for all ages.
Empower your young children to be agents of change in and away from home. They will not only eat better, they will inspire others to do the same.
Angela Russ is a mother, artist, educational trainer, and award-winning producer of music for young children. She presents music & movement to teachers nationwide, is a member of the Recording Academy, and is sole owner of the Russ InVision record label. For more information on Angela and her workshops and accomplishments visit www.abridgeclub.com.
