![\"Get](\"http:\/\/ehealth.cooperhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/ehealth_20101201_junkfood_275x137.jpg\" "\\"ehealth_20101201_junkfood_275x137\\"")
Many parents struggle daily to get their children to eat healthful foods at mealtime. While hot dogs, fast-food burgers and fries, luncheon meats, or high-fat macaroni and cheese might be your child\u2019s meals of choice, a balanced diet of nutritious and wholesome foods is essential to the health and well-being of growing children.<\/p>\n
So, what can parents do to get their youngsters to eat right and still keep the peace at the family dinner table?<\/p>\n
\u201cFor starters, get your children more involved in the kitchen and in the planning of the dinner menu,\u201d said Maryann Codd, Pediatric Outpatient Dietitian at Cooper. \u201cChildren love participating in hands-on activities that get them involved in the creation of something,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
And, with the holiday season officially upon us, now is a good time to include your children in the preparation of meals.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave your \u2018little helper\u2019 hand you the ingredients or help you stuff the turkey. Maybe there\u2019s a family recipe that everyone would enjoy preparing. It\u2019s a great way to start new family traditions by making new recipes each year. Not only will it bring the family closer together during the holidays, but your children will be proud of their accomplishments and will want to sample what they\u2019ve helped make. With so many different nutritious foods being made during the holidays, such as turkey, cranberries, string beans, cauliflower, broccoli and even sweet potatoes, your child will have a variety of healthful options to choose from at mealtime,\u201d Codd said.<\/p>\n
Another way to get your children to eat a variety of foods without hassle or fuss is to plan the menu with some consideration to their likes and dislikes. This can mean serving at least one item that you know the children will eat, along with the menu you\u2019ve already planned. This makes the mealtime more enjoyable and takes the pressure off the parents and the children.<\/p>\n
Codd offers other ways to help your children eat healthfully:<\/p>\n
\u201cRemember, food can be a fun way to teach children how to eat healthfully. Get them involved, and share with them in the creation of great meals that the whole family can enjoy,\u201d Codd said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Many parents struggle daily to get their children to eat healthful foods at mealtime. While hot dogs, fast-food burgers and fries, luncheon meats, or high-fat macaroni and cheese might be your child\u2019s meals of choice, a balanced diet of nutritious and wholesome foods is essential to growing children.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[124,208,502],"class_list":{"0":"entry","1":"post","2":"publish","3":"author-admin","4":"has-excerpt","5":"has-more-link","6":"post-3011","8":"format-standard","9":"category-ehealth-connection","10":"post_tag-child-nutrition","11":"post_tag-dietician","12":"post_tag-pediatric-nutrition"},"yoast_head":"\n