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How to get your kids to eat HEALTHY!

April 23, 2013 By Kara Leave a Comment

How to Get Your Kids to Eat Healthy

his article was written by me and was first published in Multiplicity Magazine, (Spring, 2013) Issue.  Any reproduction of material without the consent of Multiplicity Magazine is a copyright violation.

You may have noticed that feeding your kids can be quite a challenge.  From finding time to prepare food to getting them to eat it without a fight, you have your hands full.  The following is a list of what I’ve done to get my twin daughters to eat healthy and a few things that some of my readers have done as well!

  1. Lead by example.  This applies for more than just food.  If you want your kids to do something then you must set the example.  They copy everything you do and say.  Replace your bad habits with goods ones.  Snack healthy, avoid sugars, and prepare meals consisting of Real Food not processed foods.
  2. Start from the beginning.  If you are just beginning to introduce solid foods then you are in the perfect starting position.  Make every moment count.  Introduce organic healthy fruits and vegetables, avoid processed foods and make your own baby food.
  3. Don’t buy it.  If you’ve ever tried to diet, you know what I’m talking about.  Easy access to unhealthy food just makes eating healthy harder.  Keep it out of your fridge, freezer, and pantry.  This applies to fast food restaurants as well.  Stay out of them!  If your kids have never had a happy meal, they won’t ask for one!  I’m proud to say that since I quit unhealthy foods when they were 6 months old, my girls have never been to a fast food restaurant.
  4. If they haven’t tried it, they won’t ask for it.  For example, if they haven’t been given soda and you don’t drink it around them, they won’t want it.  Soda has no nutritional benefit to anyone, why train your kid to think it tastes good?  Once you get over your need for it you won’t like it either.  I’ve been soda free for over 5 years now.
  5. Keep it positive.  They aren’t going to like everything you put in front of them the first time.  This starts at 6 months and continues for life.  It took me about a year when I was 19 to get myself to start liking bananas and now I could eat them all day.  Acquiring a taste for different healthy foods is possible given time and opportunity.  Avoid allowing negative comments from anyone at the table.  I’ve seen my girls avoid cut peppers (their favorite snack) for a day after another little girl stated that she hated them.
  6. Get caregivers onboard.  I won’t lie to you on this one; this is the most daunting task.  Grandparents and other caregivers seem to have this need to give children sugary foods as a demonstration of love.  Outlawing this type of behavior doesn’t seem to work for anyone involved.  I have instead gone with the ‘less is more’ approach.  I’ve explained that giving them too much makes them sick later or alters their behavior.  Both results have actually occurred.  It has been my experience that once everyone sees how well your children eat and how healthy they are, they will start paying attention to what you are doing.
  7. They’ll eat when they’re hungry.  This method has worked for me and some of my readers.  I have heard of children that will essentially go on a hunger strike though.  Thankfully that has not been my experience!  My girls have heard me say, “I am not a short order cook” several times.  One meal is made for everyone.  I will accommodate small requests but I do not make one meal for the kids and another for everyone else.
  8. The kids menu is the devil.  It is rare to see healthy food on the kids menu.  Grilled cheese, mac and cheese, french fries, and breaded chicken fingers are staples on the menus.  None of these things are healthy.  I try to order off of the adult portion of the menu and have the meal split between my daughters.  You end up spending the same amount of money as you would have for the unhealthy kids menu options.  If you absolutely have to order off the kids menu then ask to substitute the fries for steamed veggies, a side salad or fruit (note the shock on the waiter’s face).
  9. Water water everywhere.  One of the many important conversations I’ve had as a mother was when my Naturopathic Doctor told me the girls didn’t have to drink gallons of milk every week or chug bottles of juice.  Somewhere along the way I was brainwashed into thinking that they needed excessive amounts of milk and juice to survive.  Not true.  I don’t regularly purchase juice.  I will buy juice boxes for long car rides and pull them out when my husband and I stop to get coffee.  I’ll also bring them along to the beach or pool.  In those cases they are only allowed one each.  Otherwise, day to day life consists of water.  As a bonus, water is very easy to clean up when they spill it around the house!  I have one daughter who asks for water with lemon at home and at restaurants.  Have you ever heard a 5 year old ask a waitress for water with lemon?  Priceless moment.
  10. Get them involved in food preparation.  Invite your children into the kitchen.  I know, this doesn’t make dinner preparation easier.  I don’t do this every day but I do it often.  From washing vegetables to stirring sauces, my children are in the kitchen.  My theory on this is that if they are invested in the labor involved in preparing the meal, they will be more inclined to eat it.
  11. Good brainwashing.   I’m always telling my girls to eat their healthy foods so they’ll grow big and strong.  We ask them to “show us their muscles” after they finish dinner.  They think this is hilarious.  We identify healthy foods and unhealthy foods and why they are classified that way.  I’m amazed at how much they actually do understand and remember.
  12. Make it easier.  Life is crazy if you haven’t already noticed.  Make a little extra effort when you have a few minutes to prepare yourself for the crazy times.  Bags of trail mix and cut veggies will help you have something to grab and go when you’re short on time.  Be prepared.  Meal planning is a huge help.  When I plan my meals we eat better.  It has been 5 years and I haven’t mastered this yet.  I’m making progress though!

Healthy eating may seem like a daunting task for those of us who start out with poor eating habits.  Believe me when I say it can be done.  I personally started out loathing pretty much every vegetable and now I eat them regularly.  You can do it and your kids can do it.  If they are older and you are starting from scratch, take baby steps.  Eliminate or replace the unhealthy foods one by one from your home until they are gone.  The fewer sugars you eat the more amazing fruits and vegetables start to taste.  I never knew I could love an apple without drenching it with cinnamon and sugar until I changed my habits!  Invest in your family’s health, make a change today!

Photo credit: teresaterra

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Even healthy eaters needs a little homemade ice cream!

How to Get Your Kids to Eat Healthy2

 

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kara.cozier

KARA COZIER
“People are sleepwalking through evil. They hav “People are sleepwalking through evil.

They have become so accustomed to the behavior of the dark and demonic that they hardly notice it, much less recognize if for what it is. 

So many people have dismissed the existence of evil, recoiling from the very word. 

Such arrogance is evil’s greatest asset.”
-Caroline Myss

This excerpt is powerful. Caroline continues to share more on this and what she says resonates with me and things I’ve been sharing here via FB Live and others posts. I’m also sharing over in my Telegram Channel.

When we get quiet and really listen we can see, hear, or feel the evil at work within us and within others. 

We can also see the good working to overcome it.

Every moment we get to choose.

Each small choice illuminates our next steps. Our steps create a path. 

Are you choosing a path of sleepwalking with evil or walking in faith with good?
Who needs a blast of positive energy? ✨ Our pri Who needs a blast of positive energy? ✨

Our privateTelegram chat group is having a zoom meetup tonight.

Michele and I are going to chat with you and share some experiences we’ve had that helped us BE THE LIGHT. ✨
You know how I talk about how God whispers to us? You know how I talk about how God whispers to us? It’s like whispers of divine inspiration, warnings, ideas, encouragement...

God: “Hey Kara, do you really think that’s a good idea?”

Me: “Hold my beer.”

God: “Kara, you’re doing it again. How did that work out for you last time?”

Me: “Hold my beer.”

God: “Kara, third strike, you’re doing it again...it keeps not working out this way...”

Me: “Hold my beer.”

God: [Throws brick to upset my plans and wake me up.]

Me: “Oh snap, what was I thinking??? Maybe it’s time to try a new approach...”

What’s a brick look like? 

For me, bricks usually show up as an illness, or some sort of physical ailment like stubbing my toe, slipping and falling etc. Sometimes it’s my laptop or phone breaking. Bricks are meant to wake us up, snap us out of the hypnotic rhythm so we can choose to pivot.

I’m seeing God throwing some boulders right now. 

I prefer whispers. Apparently the time for whispers has passed...

#holdmybeer #holdmybeerandwatchthis #godwhispers #throwingbricks #lifelessons #learning #faithoverfear #wegotthis
We got this 💯. Double tap if you’re ready to We got this 💯. Double tap if you’re ready to slay your dragon. 🔥

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Don’t leave Social Media. Shift the narrative. Don’t leave Social Media.

Shift the narrative.

Flood the feed with what you WANT to see.

Post and go. 🏃🏻‍♀️🏃

I love you.
I accept you.
I see you.
You are worthy.
You are enough.
You are deserving.

We get to choose to shift the narrative.
Before you post, before you consume content; CHOOSE.

What are you feeding? 
What do you want to starve?

Starve what you don’t want, feed what you want.

Collectively we could shift everything today. 
We get to choose.
What will you decide?

#lightworkersunite #msm #narrative #cbsnews #npr #foxnews #cnn #msnbc #abc #faithoverfear
We all get to make decisions about our life and we We all get to make decisions about our life and we also get to live with the consequences of our choices. 

All choices are on a journey of learning and growing—even the ones that make our journey a little harder. 

I saw that a friend made a choice I am not in alignment with—it actually triggered me emotionally quite a bit.

I didn’t comment on it, I just sat with it for a while and examined WHY I felt the way I did. It revealed a lot to me about how
I feel about choices I’ve made. It was like looking in a mirror. I’ve been there before myself.

Now, hours later, I’m at peace with my friend’s choice. I won’t make the same one but I support my friend’s right to choose their path.

I will not shame my friend.
I will not argue with my friend, what is done is done, we simply move forward from here.
I didn’t I friend or unfollow, I just digested the feelings, received the lesson and moved on. 

We all have choices to make in every moment and do the best we can with the information we have accepted. 💞

Choices have consequences and other people’s choices are not my responsibility.

#unfollow #friendsforever #consequences #quotestagram #triggered #almostlostmymind #betterthanthat #riseabove
Dear God, I’m so grateful for every... challeng Dear God, I’m so grateful for every...

challenge, 
success,
failure, 
decision, 
experience, 
person,
laugh,
tear,

and every single moment along my journey that has brought me closer to you and to the beauty of the one I’m living right now. 

Amen

💞💞💞💞💞💞💞

Ever wonder how to pray? How to dive deep into that place where peace washes over you, where you feel cleansed, where your healing light can expand from within and touch the hearts of those you hold in prayer? 

I’m arranging a free zoom to discuss this topic with someone who has guided and helped me deeply in 2020. Comment below and I’ll make sure you’re notified when we set the date. 💞🙌🏻🙏🏻

#powerofprayer #feelinglost #feelingalone #lookingforanswers #drowningindespair #whenwillthisend #covidlife #quarantinelife #onedaycloser #heartbreakquotes
I’m done. And I’m saying NO MORE. No more loc I’m done. And I’m saying NO MORE.

No more lockdowns.
No more masks.
No more curfews.
No more social distancing.
No more va (( ines without liability.
No more election fraud.
No more lies from the main stream media.
No more manipulation.
No more fear mongering.
No more discrimination.
No more destroying our livelihood.
No more corruption. 
No more darkness.
No more human trafficking. 
No more rewriting history.
No more faithless, evil people pulling our strings. The lightworkers of the world see you for who and what you are and we are not having it. 

UNITED WE WILL STAND 🇺🇸
United we say #nomore 

We say no more for not just ourselves but also for our children.
We say no more for our nation and for every other nation. 
We say no more together. 
Together our voices are loud.
Together our voices will be heard.
Together we can end this before 2021 even begins. 

The power has always been ours, we just needed a reminder. 

What happens next? That is for you to decide.
One simple option? Call, email, and write your elected officials.

Another? Stop complying. 
Another? Stop getting tested.
Another? Pray.
Another? Spread truth to others, encourage them, love them, support them.
Another? Share this with friends. #nomore
Seriously...double tap if this is true in your hou Seriously...double tap if this is true in your house. 😂
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About The Author

Kara grew up in Massachusetts. After attending college at the University of Minnesota and serving six years in the US Navy, she and her husband moved to Waxhaw, NC. Kara has run businesses of her own and now homeschools her 5-year old twins. She started living a healthier natural lifestyle in 2008. Kara currently blogs about her journey to a more natural, self-sustaining life by eating real food, gardening, and making her own cleaning and personal care products.

Disclaimer

The statements made here have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure or prevent any disease. This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

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