• Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Your neighborhood. Your News.

newsMilwaukee NNSMilwaukee NNSSearch
Subscribe to NNS today!
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • Arts and Recreation
    • Community
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Health and Wellness
    • Housing
    • Public Safety
    • NNS Spotlight
    • Special Report
  • Posts From Community
    • Submit a Story
  • Community Voices
  • How To
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Local Video
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect
    • NNS WGLB 1560 Radio
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • About
    • Staff
    • Partners
    • News 414
    • The neighborhoods we cover
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Diederich College of Communication, Marquette University

You are here: Home / "How To" articles / How to get your child to eat healthier food‬‬

How to get your child to eat healthier food‬‬

August 12, 2015 by Gayle Coleman, University of Wisconsin-Extension Leave a Comment

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
(Photo courtesy of United States Department of Agriculture)

(Photo courtesy of United States Department of Agriculture)

Early in the 20th century, advertisers found success promoting products to children. This expanded in the 1950s and 1960s, with the growth of television and the promotion of special meals for kids as part of the growing fast-food industry. ‬‬‬

Considering the number of ads people see and hear today on the Internet, video games and social media, it’s not surprising that many people believe that children need to eat different foods than adults. ‬‬‬

It’s true that children may not like the taste of a food the first few times they try it and that they naturally like sweet and salty foods. But over time kids can learn to like a variety of foods and flavors. ‬‬

Children like to explore and have fun. If given the opportunity, they may enjoy exploring the wide variety of foods offered on restaurant menus and have fun finding new foods to try at the grocery store or farmers’ market. ‬‬

Here are a few ways to encourage your children to eat different types of foods: ‬‬‬

  • Make the same meal for all family members. If children are routinely expected to eat the same healthy foods as the rest of the family, they will learn to like these foods. On the other hand, if children are allowed to demand pizza when everyone else is having spaghetti, the stage is set to encourage picky eating. ‬‬‬
  • Be a role model. Children learn from their parents. If you are willing to taste foods that are new to you, there’s a good chance that your children will be, too. ‬‬‬
  • Make trying new foods interesting. Explore the standard adult menu at a restaurant with your child to see what they might like to try. In many restaurants there is enough food in a single adult order to feed you and your child so you might want to share an entree. ‬‬‬
  • Encourage but don’t force children to try new foods. Studies have shown that children are more likely to eat foods if they are not forced to eat them. ‬‬‬
  • Buy healthy foods and beverages that you want your family to eat. If children are hungry and the only foods available for snacks are healthy foods such as fruit, raw veggies, low-fat milk and whole grain cereal, then they will choose a healthy snack. Similarly, children are more likely to drink low-fat milk, juice and water when there are no sugary beverages to choose from. ‬‬‬
  • Plan meals and prepare foods with children. Children enjoy tasting and eating foods that they helped to plan or prepare. Even young children can help decide which green vegetable to have with a meal or stir a fruit salad. Plus, they are learning how to plan and prepare meals in the process. ‬‬‬
  • Grow foods together. Children also are more likely to taste and eat foods that they help to grow. Even if it’s just a container garden with a tomato plant or leafy greens children will learn how vegetables grow and your family will have fresh veggies to eat. ‬‬‬
  • It’s easy to see why certain foods are popular with children when you consider the influence of advertising and children’s natural preference for sweet and salty foods. But no matter how it may appear, kids’ food is a myth born in the 20th century. ‬

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Filed Under: "How To" articles

Avatar

About Gayle Coleman, University of Wisconsin-Extension

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Top Stories

Advertisement

How To …

What you need to know now about mail-in voting in Wisconsin

6 helpful tips on mail-in voting to ensure that your vote is counted and your voice is heard in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election this November.

More "How To" articles

Advertisement

Recommended Reading

A Vaccine Reality Check

The Atlantic

UWM study on the state of Black Milwaukee describes the city as ‘the epitome of a 21st century racial regime’

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Videos Show How Federal Officers Escalated Violence in Portland

The New York Times

These mayors want to fight Covid-19 and the recession with one big idea: A guaranteed income

Vox

The World John Lewis Helped Create

The Atlantic

News

  • Arts and Recreation
  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • Health and Wellness
  • Housing
  • Public Safety
  • NNS Spotlight
  • Special Reports
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Videos
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect Radio

Engage with us

  • Posts from Community
  • Community Voices
  • Submit a Story

About NNS

  • Staff
  • Partners
  • News414
  • The neighborhoods we cover
  • Internship opportunities
  • Careers
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS feed

Communities

Contact

mailing address
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Diederich College of Communication
Marquette University
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Johnston Hall 430
Milwaukee, WI 53233

email
info@milwaukeenns.org

phone & fax
PHONE: 414.604.6397 FAX: 414.288.6494

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a project of Diederich College of Communication and Marquette University.
© 2020 Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Terms of use.
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee WI 53233 • info@milwaukeenns.org

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in