Teach Kids About Healthy Eating With These DIY Dinner Ideas (And save money!)

Let’s face it. It’s not always an easy task to encourage your kids to eat healthy. However, getting your little ones involved in dinner making is not only a fun bonding experience, but it’s also an excellent opportunity for them to learn about nutritious eating habits.

How to Teach Healthy Eating and Build Lasting Habits

There are so many benefits to cooking with your kids. One of those happens to be giving youngsters the tools to make good food choices. As parents know, healthy eating habits are essential to your child’s physical development and can help fuel their brain too! In fact, a recent study showed ? of adolescents with poor food habits showed low academic performance and chronic illness.

Build positive foundational tools with these tips for better eating:

• Educate Your Family on Healthy Foods: There is a lot of information on what to eat, and some of it can be time-consuming to navigate. As a general rule of thumb, lean proteins, whole grains, and plenty of produce are the way to go. When shopping at your bulk food store, look for these 10 main healthy food options:
  1. Beans
  2. Yogurt
  3. Avocado
  4. Sweet Potato
  5. Eggs
  6. Whole Grains
  7. Nuts and Seeds
  8. Berries
  9. Vegetables
  10. Milk
• Make Eating Well a Fun Activity: Sometimes getting children to try new and fortifying food can be a challenge. Luckily, the earlier you start, the easier it is to introduce wholesome foods into their diet. But, even if you are trying to get your pre-teen to enjoy some hearty greens, there are ample tips to encourage nutritious eating. Consider family-style meals, go for interactive spreads, and have everyone contribute to part of the meal.
• Lead By Example: Your kids are looking up to you, so plan to eat those brussels sprouts, too. Branch out and try new ingredients with your kids, and be optimistic about trying new things.

3 Dinner Ideas Kids Can Help Assemble

Eating well doesn’t have to be laborious or expensive. Check out these 3 kid-tested and parent-approved recipes, with ingredients found at your bulk food store:

1. Turkey Taco Night: Sub lean ground turkey for beef, and create your own cantina-style taco bar. Add black or pinto beans for an extra boost of protein, serve with guacamole, salsa, shredded cheese, and plain yogurt (in place of sour cream). Offer kids the choice of corn tortilla or lettuce for their taco shells.

2. Baked Sweet Potato Bar: Classic baked potatoes get a sweet--and healthy!-upgrade with sweet potatoes. Have the kids pick out their favorite toppings and encourage them to get creative, like adding fresh berries and maple syrup.

3. Flatbread Station: It doesn’t get easier than this flatbread meal idea. Plus, it is a great way to get kids of any age involved because it requires little to no cooking. Simply grab some all-natural flatbread from your restaurant supply store, toast them in the oven, and put out a smorgasbord of fresh toppings like:

• Spinach, baby kale, and arugula
• Fresh herbs
• Chopped cooked chicken breast
• Olives
• Lentils 
• Sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and bell peppers
• Sauces: Tzatziki, Sriracha, Sambal, Sweet Chili Sauce, etc.

Are you too busy to eat well? There are plenty of frozen food options to make quick meals a breeze while still retaining all their nutritional value. From pre-made cauliflower crusts for pizza to all-natural chicken tenders, no matter what your schedule, or your budget, you can still eat healthy!

Bulk Frozen Food and More at US Foods CHEF’STORE

Help your family eat healthy while staying on budget by shopping for all your food essentials at CHEF’STORE. We stock high-quality, all-natural proteins, garden-fresh produce, whole grains, and tons of wholesome ready-to-make frozen foods. Browse our exceptional products online or stop by any of our convenient locations and get cooking!

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