Here they come! The backpacks get tossed down and everyone is scrambling in the fridge or cupboard for something to eat.
Dinner will not be ready for an hour and you need some healthy snacks for your kids that are cool and will not get pushed back across the counter at you, with a big "yuck" to follow.
You know the kids need to eat more fruits and veggies but you do not have the energy to fight with them to eat healthy.
There are days you just want to get them to eat the good stuff without screaming, crying or attitudes.
There are a few things you can do to encourage your kids to eat healthy.
1.
Let the kids help you pick out the fruits and vegetables at the store.
Teach them how to tell when a fruit is ripe or not.
2.
Have the kids take turns being your helper in the kitchen.
Teach them how to peel carrots or slice potatoes.
3.
Do not get stressed out if they do not eat everything on their plate.
Tell them to pick 3 out of the 4 foods on their plate to eat and the 4th item they have to at least try.
This puts the control into their hands and you may soon see them finishing their entire plate.
4.
Do not get rid of all the junk food in the house.
You are setting yourself up for a battle.
It is OK to eat junk food once in awhile.
Make it a rule in your house that you have to eat something good before something bad.
5.
Set a good example for your kids.
Healthy snacks for your kids will do wonders for you as well.
Depending on the age of your children, you need to spice it up once in awhile to keep them interested.
Healthy snacks for your kids do not have to be boring.
You can play games, cut the fruits and veggies into shapes, make a smoothie or a juice drink.
Hold off on buying a specific kind of fruit or veggie for awhile and then introduce it again and see what happens.
It works with toys that you put away for awhile.
They will play with those toys all day as if it was brand new.