How to Build Healthy Eating Habits in Children? 5 Healthy Recipes

Imagine, you cooked the perfect sunny-side-up omelette with a little smiley face on top, by sacrificing your sleep in the morning, only to get a disgusted look from your toddler! This heartbreak is every mom’s worst nightmare!

While your child is heading towards his growing years, it is extremely crucial to feed him nutritious food rich in vitamins and minerals to build his stamina and strength. It is also highly significant for your child to build a positive relationship with food. Here’s how to build healthy eating habits in children to ensure their growth and overall well-being.

1.1. Variety of Food

It’s highly important to keep introducing new foods apart from their familiar favorites. Offer them nutritious food such as fruits, vegetables, proteins, and grains to keep their diet interesting and ensure their body receives a variety of nutrients. Try new toddler recipes to avoid monotony in their meals. Some toddler lunch recipes are as follows:

A. Broccoli Cheesy Waffle

Ingredients

• ½ cup cheddar cheese
• One egg
• ¼ tsp garlic powder

Mix ¼ cup shredded broccoli, ½ cup cheddar cheese, and one egg in a bowl. Add ¼ tsp garlic powder and mix until combined. Preheat the waffle maker and lightly grease the waffle plates with butter or oil. Pour the mixture onto the center. Avoid overfilling the batter. Close the lid and cook for about 4 to 6 minutes. Your cheesy broccoli waffle will be ready in no time. Cut it into small pieces and serve it to your toddler.

B. Chicken Nuggets

Ingredients

• 10 oz canned chicken
• 1 Egg, 3 tbsp mozzarella or parmesan cheese

Blend these ingredients using a blender. Form into nuggets and toss them into the air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes. The nuggets should be crispy and golden brown. Serve after some time when they are not too hot. Watch how your toddler enjoys these cheesy nuggets with his favorite dipping sauce. This nutritious food is enough to keep him full the entire day.

1.2. Fruits of Different Colors

Nature has provided us with so many colorful fruits and vegetables because it somehow knows we humans have to deal with an army of picky eaters! Feed your children fruits and vegetables of various colors so that their plate looks appetizing, which will eventually lead them to consume nutritious food.

Kids are obsessed with unique shapes as well. There are various kinds of vegetable cutters available in the market that cut fruits and veggies into different shapes. The secret tip to make your little fussy human eat healthy nutritious food is to make sure their food looks presentable! They’ll reject any food if it isn’t appealing to the eyes. Think of something creative and watch how they resist a star-shaped cucumber!

1.3. Healthy Snacks

Here are some nutritious food snack recipes to get your toddler to fall in love with healthy food!

A. Carrot Chips

Ingredients

• Carrots
• Olive oil
• Seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika)

Carrot chips are a perfect alternative to processed chips. First, cut the carrots into thin slices using a vegetable slicer and then spray them with olive oil. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Give it a nice stir. Toss them in the air fryer. That’s it! Your crunchy carrot chips are ready! Your kids will love how crispy and colorful they turn out to be!

B. Apple Chips

Ingredients

• One apple
• Cinnamon powder

Apple chips are light snacks for the evening time. Just remove the core and pips of an apple using an apple corer tool. Cut the apple into thin slices. Sprinkle some cinnamon powder and air fry at 300 for twenty minutes. Enjoy the delicious treat of apple chips that are so easy to prepare!

C. Banana Pancakes

Ingredients

• One ripe banana
• Two eggs
• ⅓ cup of all purpose or whole wheat flour

This hassle-free three ingredients banana pancake will be ready in ten minutes. First, mash one ripe banana in a bowl and add two eggs. Mix until combined. Do not worry if the mixture is a little lumpy. Then add ⅓ cup of all purpose or whole wheat flour and mix gently. Do not overmix. Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add a small amount of oil or butter to the pan. Pour the batter onto the surface to form small pancakes. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Drizzle some honey on top and add fresh fruits like banana, strawberry, or blueberry.

1.4. Lead By Example

A child learns from his environment, and when he sees you following a healthy, nutritious diet, he is more likely to imitate this behavior. Therefore, include plenty of nutritious food like fruits, veggies, and lean proteins in your own diet so that your child gets encouraged to follow the same diet.

Have him sit with the family and eat his meals so that he is tempted to try new foods. Avoid watching television or using the phone during meals. Interact with him, share stories, and make plans for upcoming trips. Teach him table manners and watch him get excited during meal time!

1.5. Involvement in Meal Preparation

As our younger generation is getting used to luxury and technology, the need for outdoor activities is becoming more crucial than ever. Remember how our neighborhood used to be filled with the laughter of children playing in the streets? Nowadays, we don’t even hear the voices of children in our house as they are glued to their iPads!

It is extremely important to engage them in household chores in order for them to learn basic life skills. Take them out for grocery shopping and involve them in the food-making process. They will not only learn new skills but also be inspired to eat the food they prepared.

1.6. Say No to Sugary and Processed Food

While it is no surprise to conclude that sugary and processed foods are extremely harmful to your body, this generation needs crunchy moms more than ever! Limit the use of store-bought products and replace them with natural alternatives like fruits, veggies, and nuts.

We don’t talk enough about it, but dry fruits are the tastiest alternative to junk food. These little treats are packed with essential nutrients and natural sweetness, making them a healthy and fulfilling snack option. These small changes can lead to a significant improvement in the overall well-being and health of you and your child.

1.7. Avoid Food as Reward

Using unhealthy junk food as a reward can lead to an unhealthy obsession over junk food. Instead, try non-food rewards such as extra playtime or a fun outdoor activity to ensure your child’s overall development.

Final Words

Hope these tips have helped you encourage your toddler to eat healthy nutritious food. If you have any doubts, questions, or want to share anything about the topic, please don’t hesitate to contact me here.