5 Ways to Spruce Up Healthy Foods the Kids Will Love

If you’ve got a picky eater in the family, you know just how hard it can be to make sure your kids are eating healthy. That’s why making healthy eating a fun experience for kids is often the key to ensuring they get their essential vitamins and nutrients! We’ve got the scoop on how to make even the healthiest foods into a meal that picky eaters will love.

Low-Fat Greek Yogurt

Strawberry yogurt popsicles

Low-fat Greek yogurt is a great snack option for kids on the go. It has more calcium per serving than a glass of milk, which is important for healthy bone development. It also contains probiotics, which help maintain a healthy digestive system. If your kids are wary about yogurt, try drizzling their yogurt with some honey in the shape of a heart or smiley face. On a hot day, try freezing some yogurt in a popsicle mould for a refreshing snack.

Avocado

Mashed avocado dip and salsa

Avocados are filled with nutrients and vitamins that help a growing brain, such as monounsaturated fats (the good kind of fats), fiber, vitamin K and folate. If your kid tends to avoid anything green on the table, try making an avocado into a fun dip for crackers or veggie sticks. Simply mash an avocado with a bit of lemon juice and you’ve got a healthy snack that your kids will love!

Berries

Berry smoothies with striped straws

Berries are a great food for kids because they’re rich in antioxidants, help boost brain health and help prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes. If your kid is “berry” avoidant of these superfoods, try making them into a smoothie. Most kids love milkshakes and other colorful drinks, so grab a blender, some frozen berries and some juice and whip up a nutrient-packed treat. To make smoothies even more fun, put them in a favorite glass with a fun straw.

Fish

Tilapia Healthy Picky Eaters Fish

Lean white fish has some incredible health benefits for kids. As a source of omega-3 fatty acids, lean protein and B vitamins, fish helps with healthy brain development and ensures your kids have enough energy to get them through the day.

If your kids are fishy about fish, opt for a mild white fish like Tilapia, and make it into healthy homemade fish sticks. For even more kid-friendly fun, try cutting the fish into shapes before breading.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal Healthy Foods Picky Eaters

Oatmeal is a super healthy breakfast options for kids. It contains fiber-rich, slow-burn carbohydrates that will help keep them focused in class, provide energy that will last all morning and keep their tummies from grumbling before lunch.

To make oatmeal into a meal that picky eaters will love, let kids jazz up their own oatmeal. Provide them with a variety of yummy toppings such as dried fruit, coconut, honey, chopped nuts, diced apples or peanut butter. Yum!

One foolproof technique that can work with nearly any food is to make it into a picture, either by arranging the different things on the plate or by cutting foods into fun shapes. Parenting a picky eater can be tough, but by making mealtime more fun, you’ll have your kids eating healthy foods with a smile in no time.

Photos: Melissa, Annie, erichbauer0, __steph__, Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com, Anastasia_Panait / Shutterstock.com