Healthy Eating
W
hen Kristen F. Gradney
and her daughter, Analise,
grocery shop together,
it's as much an adventure as an
errand. Analise touches the produce
thoughtfully, contemplating the
colors and textures. If she signals
her approval of a fruit or vegetable,
then Mom buys it.
What's unusual about these
experiences is that Analise is only 1.
"Even as babies I've taken my
children [Analise and son Hunter,
age 6] to the grocery store. I always
allow them to have a role in choosing
food," says Gradney, a registered
dietitian nutritionist in Louisiana and
a spokesperson for the Academy of
Nutrition and Dietetics.
But even if your children are long
past the baby and toddler stages,
you can still encourage your family
to get involved in meal planning and
preparation in the kitchen.
You'll share time together, help your
children develop practical life skills,
and enjoy healthy dishes in which the
whole family partakes.
By Bev Bennett
Start a
family
cooking tradition
6
Hit the grocery store together
Although you'll likely stick with the
grocery list for most purchases,
allow some flexibility so children can
select a vegetable they'd like to try,
say the dietitians.
But keep in mind that you may have
to eat whatever your children choose,
adds Gradney, recalling her son's
fascination with turnips. They weren't
her favorite, but she bought them and
prepared them, and Hunter had his
first taste of turnip at an early age.
Get everyone's input on menus
"It's worth asking your family, 'What
do you want for dinner this week?'"
says Nancy Z. Farrell, a Virginia-based
registered dietitian nutritionist and
a spokesperson for the Academy of
Nutrition and Dietetics.
But discourage requests for
separate entrees, such as broiled
fish for your spouse and macaroni
for your children.
"I don't like to point children to
separate foods," says Gradney.
"There's a whole world of food I want
to expose children to so it's not just
mac and cheese" that they're eating.
Some foods, such as vegetables,
nuts, seeds and whole grains, may
somehow go missing from the
family's suggestions. Turn this into
an opportunity to talk nutrition. For
example, "Let's top our dinner salad
with walnuts or pumpkin seeds to make
it more heart healthy," says Farrell.