Are you trying to eat healthy but having trouble getting your entire family on board? If that’s the case, you’re not alone.
Many hurdles might stand in the way of better behaviours, ranging from stress and hectic work schedules to budget limits and limited food availability.
Furthermore, family members might not always agree on what to eat.
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Parents who adhere to a specific diet may eat differently from the rest of the family. Meltdown prone toddlers may refuse to eat while crossing their arms in disgust at mealtimes. Teenagers may avoid family supper by stopping at the drive-through on their ride home.
It is feasible to get the entire family on board with healthy behaviours with a combination of thoughtful planning and a willingness to be flexible.
Here are some easy ways to make the family eat healthier:
You Don’t Need To Be Perfect
Despite what social media may well have you believe, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to eating healthier. This means that your meals don’t have to be costly, complicated, time-consuming, or photogenic. Instead, be realistic and do your best to assist your family in making healthy choices. Furthermore, by removing the pressure to have a flawless diet, you are more likely to find a healthy style of eating that works for your family. For example, a nice vegan pizza is bound to go down well.
Don’t Have Off Limit Foods
While some foods are undoubtedly more nutritious than others, it is critical to cultivating a good relationship with food by avoiding words like “bad” or “off-limits.”
Furthermore, being overly restrictive might lead to stress and tension during mealtimes.
Don’t consider any meal off-limits. All meals, in moderation, can fit into a healthy lifestyle. Consider using the terminology ‘always foods’ and sometimes foods.’ Fruits and vegetables are usually a good snack option, while birthday cake is only served on special occasions.
Make Sure Meal Planning Is Simple
Meal planning is an excellent time-saving method because you just have to go food shopping once or twice a week. Choosing which recipes to create, on the other hand, might be difficult. While there is a time and place for testing out a beautiful new Pinterest recipe, it’s best to stick to simple meal ideas during the week.
One approach to speed up the process is to plan meals around what you already have on hand. Using what you have on hand not only saves you time and money, but it also decreases food waste.
Another suggestion is to make meal preparation a collaborative activity by having a sheet of paper or a whiteboard board in the kitchen to keep a running list of food ideas to which the entire family can participate. Tired of preparing the same dishes week after week? Revisit old cookbooks that may be collecting dust in the basement or attic and save recipes that you’d like to make as a family.
These three tips should help feed your family healthy meals easier. Do you have any other tips that could help? Please share them in the comments below.
