One of my “tricks” for healthy eating with my daughter has always been about giving her choices.
Choices of healthy things ;)
The choices are things like…
“Would you like zucchini or blueberries?” (Well, uh, blueberries I knew she’d pick, right? Who wouldn’t?)
“Would you like raspberries or carrots?” (Um, yeah raspberries for the win.)
“Do you want black beans or bell pepper?” (Bell pepper. All day long.)
I give her two healthy choices, but one isn’t as tasty sounding. She feels empowered that she gets to choose, and I feel happy that she’s eating very well.
These days, it’s still like that in our house at times. It’s changed up a bit though.
Here’s an example: She wants ice cream (always Straus organic, full fat, and grass-fed). Then, we negotiate.
I say, “Okay, K, you can have ice cream, but you have to have something healthy with it.” (I don’t care whether she eats it first or last, but it has to be eaten in the same sitting.)
“Like what, Mom?”
“Tuna or bell pepper or sardines or broccoli?”
She says, “I’ll take tuna. In the same bowl.”
Ha, I wasn’t expecting that.
So, here she is enjoying strawberry ice cream in a bowl of tuna. It’s become a regular request.
Note: I prefer Wild Planet when it comes to tuna because it’s supposed to be lower in mercury compared to other tuna. The reason is that they have a weight/size limit on the size of tuna they catch, meaning less mercury in the fish. Specifically, from their website: “Wild Planet tuna is a delicious, healthy way to enjoy tuna straight from the can. Available in Albacore or Skipjack, all of our tuna is cooked just once in the can, retaining all of its natural juices and Omega 3 oils, and is packed in cans with no added water or oil. The smaller fish we catch are lower in mercury; the firm texture and rich, clean taste of Wild Planet will be the perfect addition to all of your favorite recipes.”
