August 26, 2010 - They turn their noses up at fresh fruit. They whine at the sight of a vegetable. And they threaten rebellion when they see what’s for dinner. Their habits make mealtime more challenging. And they live not-so-quietly among us. They are our families’ picky eaters. The good news is your favorite picky eater can be reformed. It’s not too late. Parents can help their kids leave behind their demanding dinner-time demeanor.
Tara Bench is the food and entertaining editor for Ladies’ Home Journal. Here are some of her tips:
-Presentation – We all eat with our eyes before anything ever passes our lips. Kids are more likely to dismiss something because it doesn’t look appetizing or if it looks foreign to them. A great trick is to replace foods they already eat with the whole grain variety. Chef Boyardee now offers some of its most popular pastas in whole grains, which is great because it’s a family favorite that kids are familiar with, so you can serve up a wholesome meal that includes protein, a full serving of vegetables and now whole grains.
-Smart Snacking – Try to offer snacks that pack in protein and flavor like nutritionally positive Sabra Hummus. These 2 oz servings are the perfect snack size and if you’re looking to add whole grains to snack-time, try pairing them with a great chip from Frito-Lay. SunChips multigrain snacks have 18 grams of whole grains per serving and Tostitos Scoops with 8 grams per serving. Add some veggies on the side, and you’re looking at a very nutritious and satisfying after school snack.
-Resources for Great Deals - Eating healthy doesn't have to break the bank. In fact if you go to www.ShopAtHome.com which is free to use, you can find the largest collection of over 1,200 printable grocery coupons, as well as coupons to your favorite restaurants and even free products samples.
For more information go to www.LHJ.com.
Tara Bench is the food and entertaining editor for Ladies’ Home Journal, continuing the magazine’s tradition of producing unique, family-friendly and inspiring recipes and food content. Prior to joining Ladies’ Home Journal Tara created recipes and food styled for many magazines, television and cookbooks. Previously she served as Senior Food Editor at Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Weddings for six years. During her tenure at Martha Stewart Omnimedia, Tara directed the food content for Kids magazine and appeared several times on theMartha Stewart television show. She has food styled for the web and television, including the Real Simple show on PBS.Tara has taught cooking classes, and done cooking demonstrations on television and at the French Culinary Institute’s PastryScoop.com.
