Are you the parent of a young child who you would like to eat healthy? If you are, you may be interested in introducing your child to organic foods. Unfortunately, for some parents, this can be easier said than done. If you are finding it difficult to introduce your toddler or preschooler to organic foods, please continue reading on, as a number of helpful tips are highlighted below.
One way to help your child get used to eating organic foods is to not tell them that they are doing so right away. Of course, you want your child to know that they are eating healthy and it is important for children to know what organic foods are, but you may want to wait until your child has already decided that they like eating organic, which they should. This is important for toddlers and preschoolers, as some may be turned away by the word “organic”, especially if it is a new word for them. There is really no reason why you need to tell your child that they are eating organic soap when you could just simply say soup.
Introducing your child, especially young children, to organic foods slowly is another great approach. If you are making the switch to organic foods, consider making it a transition, instead of a traditional switch. Although your child will likely not be able to tell the difference in organic foods, some children are able to do so. This is where there are benefits to slowly introducing a child to organic foods. For example, start with snacks or one meal a day, such as an organic breakfast.
Speaking of snacks, they are a great way to get your child excited about eating organic foods. Did you know that there are a number of organic snacks, many of which are designed for toddlers and preschoolers? There are. For example, Earth’s Best Organic offers fruit snack bars, organic cookies, and organic crackers. Also, most of their products for toddlers and preschoolers come with Sesame Street themes. Snacks are a positive and fun way to introduce young children to organic foods. Also, consider offering your child a reward for eating all or most of their organic meals. This is great for picky eaters. What you can do is offer an organic cookie or an organic cracker as a reward if all or most of your child’s lunch or dinner is eaten.
Another easy, yet fun way to get your child excited about eating organically is by letting them help you shop. This is ideal if you will be doing your shopping locally. When using this approach, it is best to visit a specialty organic food store, as no matter what your child chooses it should be healthy and natural. For smaller children, point them in the right direction. For example, set your child in the cereal aisle if you are looking to buy cereal, and so forth.
The above-mentioned ways are just a few of the many ways that you can successfully introduce your child to organic foods. These approaches are ideal for those at the toddler and preschool levels. Many find that this is the age range that is most difficult to make the switch to organic foods, as many children at this age dislike change, especially where their food is concerned.
