Do you want to teach your children about healthy eating? At ingarden, we are led by two passionate nutritionists. Our shared goal is to make people's lives healthier through easily accessible, healthy food. After years of research, we know that the key to a better understanding of the importance of nutrition lies in education. That's why we've created this special guide to help you!
5. Teach the children a memorable song.
Let your inner songwriter speak and write a song about nutrition. Take a popular melody and write lyrics that explain which foods contain which nutrients and why these nutrients are good for us. Keep it simple and start with vitamins A, B, and C. Choose foods that the children are probably already familiar with, like carrots and oranges. Over time, you can add more vitamins!
4. Integrate these foods into your diet
Once your children have mastered the new and engaging nutrition song, you can reinforce the message by regularly including these foods in your diet. Each time these foods are on the menu, sing the song together and remind the children what nutrients they're getting and why they're good for them. Before you know it, your children will be singing the catchy nutrition song on their own and with their friends.
3. Present the food attractively
Songs are catchy, but it's also important to make the food (and its nutritional value) appealing! It's not always easy to get kids excited about nutrient-rich foods like beans and kale, but there are plenty of ways to encourage them to eat. For example, sprinkle nuts over their oatmeal in the morning. Serve the broccoli with a cheese sauce. Bake the spinach and feta in puff pastry.
2. Involving children in the preparation
Involve children in the preparation process and introduce them to nutritious foods. If they are young, show them how to wash blueberries and juice oranges. As they get older, teach them more complex tasks like chopping and steaming. When children learn these simple tasks from an early age, they will naturally develop a lifelong connection to these nutritious foods.
1. Start harvesting at home
The best way to teach children about nutrition is to grow nutritious food at home. This way, they have a constant supply of nutrients right before their eyes, food they've grown themselves. Growing and harvesting their own produce gives children (and adults!) a sense of accomplishment, which in turn motivates them to eat the produce. Not to mention, they'll enjoy planting the seeds and watching them grow every day! You can grow nutrient-rich microgreens like red cabbage in your indoor garden and then harvest other nutrient-dense vegetables like tomatoes, parsley, and basil in a flowerpot on your windowsill, balcony, or in your garden.
