Raising healthy eaters

When I talk about nutrition with other moms, one of the most common issues that comes up is how they can get their kids to eat better. Maybe you have the same questions:; "How do I get my child to eat more vegetables?" "How do I deal with a picky eater?" "When and what should I start to feed my baby?" "What kinds of healthy and simple snacks can I fix for my kids?"

I’ve decided to start addressing these questions, and many more, in a series on how to raise healthy eaters. I know that this is a challenging area for so many moms. They really desire to feed their kids well, and to teach them the basics of nutrition, but it doesn’t always feel that simple.

Because nutrition is a passion of mine, I have spent much time in the last 4 years (since becoming pregnant with my darling daughter), studying nutrition for pregnancy, breastfeeding, babies, and toddlers, and even older children and teens, as I taught a homeschool co-op class last spring. I had actually begun a course in natural nutrition with the goal of becoming a certified holistic nutritionist, but my husband and I realized that it wasn’t the right season for our family, and so at this time, I study for personal interest only.

I do not claim to be an expert on this subject, but I am delighted to say that my 3 year old has become an excellent eater, with very little that she dislikes or will refuse to eat (or should I say, attempt to refuse- not trying a food is not an option in our home). She loves fruits, many vegetables (and will still eat those which she doesn’t love), whole grains and brown rice, and all types of protein, along with fish, beans and legumes.

I will share more of our story throughout the series, but please know that we have definitely gone through seasons full of "I don’t like this", refusing foods, and the like. It has not always been a smooth road.

In this series, I will cover everything from pregnancy and nursing nutrition, to when and what to feed a baby, to dealing with the picky toddler, and teaching nutrition to the older child. I will also cover quick and healthy snacks, meals, and how to include your children in the process of shopping and preparing food.

I welcome your thoughts, and especially questions that you would like to have answered! I cannot guarantee that I can answer them all, but I will certainly try, and if I don’t know the answer, I am up to the challenge of researching it! I also value your suggestions, and the things that have worked well in your family. I think that this will be such a valuable discussion for us all (and I look forward to learning from many of you, too!). Join me next Monday as we explore how to raise healthy children with healthy habits!