A healthy-eating challenge for families

One of the biggest lessons I have learned as a mom is that I should never assume anything about my kids. They surprise me all the time! Like the time Joe, my overly cautious child, rode Space Mountain at Disneyland and said, “Huh, that wasn’t scary at all.” Or the time Leila asked for salami and clementines for breakfast.

Kids are a curious bunch. So why do we limit their curiosity by feeding them primarily “kid foods”? Why do we assume that they won’t like things like fish, salad, or a tomato?

When we do that, we limit their capacity to choose healthy foods as an adult. How can they be expected to make good food choices if they have never learned what good choices look like?

So my challenge to you, should you choose to accept it, (and I hope you will) is to make one positive change this week towards eating healthy as a family. Just one.

Take the first step.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

Plant something. It doesn’t have to be an entire garden, obviously that is not realistic for everyone. But you can plant a small pot of herbs. Do it with your kids! Let them pick out the plants and help tend the pot or garden. As the herbs start to grow, smell them, taste them, use them in cooking.

Visit a local farm. Don’t have a green thumb? Take the kids to see someone who does. Visit a local farm or a neighbor with a really great garden. See if you can go on a u-pick day so the kids can see what it’s like to pull a carrot out of the ground or an apple off a tree.

Make a healthy meal together. It can be something as simple as pizza or tostadas. Just get in the kitchen together.

Eat together as a family. Family meal time benefits kids in so many ways. Studies show that kids who have regular family meals do better in school and are more likely to stay away from drugs.