This post has been sponsored by American Heart Association Healthy For Good™ Movement campaign.
They also provided me with some great ideas for better kids nutrition. #HealthyForGoodBe
Did you know that June is National Fresh Fruits and Veggie Month? Considering how many delicious fruits and veggie posts I have seen from friends on social media, it seems like June is the perfect month for this. My favorite part of this being National Fresh Fruits and Veggies month is that it gives us all a great excuse to buying more vegetables for kids and improving their eating habits! However, being a working mom doesn’t leave me much time to figure out how to give the best nutrition for my three kids!
The kids in my family are very different! My daughter loves trying new things, especially fruits and vegetables. My older son is super picky – only eats lettuce because he thinks it will make him grow faster and wants nothing to do with most of the produce. My toddler only wants to eat what is on somebody else’s plate.
If you have kids that are picky eaters, you will find lots of great inspiration for bringing more nutrients into your diet by having fun with your fruits and vegetables this month. If you need some more ideas on how you can get the most out of adding fruits and veggies to your menu plan this month, check out these fun ideas:
Get more fruits and vegetables for kids this summer
with these tips:
COLORFUL PLATE. Focus on creating a colorful meal – it can be a lot of fun for kids! Adding colors means that you are adding vitamins, minerals, fiber, and flavor! Bland colors = bland foods. Get some ideas about colorful meals here and don’t forget to check out my favorite eat the rainbow for dinner!
MAKE WATER FUN! It might be tricky to get the kids to drink more water, but with a little creativity and help from 12 infused water recipes video, hydration will be a fun game to play.
FOOD FUN. If you have a picky eater, you might have to work a bit harder to make food fun. Let’s say your child loves spaghetti but hates veggies. Why not make zoodles and top it with your spaghetti sauce? Often your kid won’t even notice that they are eating vegetables instead of pasta! Sometimes using a spiralizer is all it takes to get more vegetables for kids’ plates without any kids’ drama.
SNACK IT UP. If healthy snacking is a challenge in your house, you are not alone. With unhealthy snacks being so readily available and quick, it’s easy to fall into the trap of letting your kid splurge on unhealthy foods more often than you should. Swap unhealthy snacks out for good ones with the help of the Healthy Post-Play Snacks! Some of these might look obvious, but the simplicity of these substitutions is the key to a great summer nutrition for the growing buddies.
SHOP BETTER. Find an hour and go through your pantry. Take a note of the good everyday staples and the processed food and snacks you shouldn’t have around. Next time you are at the store make sure to stock up on the good stuff and avoid bringing home sweet desserts you know your and your kids shouldn’t be eating anyway. Try new fruits and vegetables for kids this summer – you might discover their new favorite!
The fact is, eating healthy is important to maintain a healthy, active life. Part of eating healthy means that you need to be eating fruits and vegetables. Fresh is best, but any fresh fruit and vegetables are good. If you don’t have access to fresh produce, you can always choose frozen, canned or even dried.
Ready to learn more about fruits and vegetables for kids? Join the Healthy For Good movement – CLICK HERE and also check out their Twitter and Facebook communities.
What is your favorite summer vegetable?
