Helping children develop good eating habits is an important goal towards their ultimate good health and nutrition.  With childhood diabetes on the rise, very young is a good time to instill healthy habits in those children around us. Keeping meals appetizing and colorful can attract the most rigid palate.  A few tricks can really help kids learn to appreciate new food, vegan food, and healthy food.

First of all, include them in the process. If you are trying out a new recipe, set things up so the younger children can help out.  If they invest in the creation, they are more likely to want to try it out and feel a part of it.  For the very young, call it something intriguing to garner their interest.  Peanut butter toast with brown sugar on it (cut into the right shapes each slice becomes eight or ten) is called “Dirty Toes” at our house – and may even include some “toenails” (banana slices) if we are feeling particularly wicked.  The little ones think it is so much fun to hear what we are eating.  (Tofu was called “toe food” at our house for a long time, so eating “Dirty Toes” was not that big of a stretch.)  We have some small red bowls which are used for snacks such as raisins and celery, or apple slices with peanut butter. (Be sure the children are old enough for bits of food before trying this one.)  Those little bowls usually mean something good is about to be served and they are now considered the harbinger of “treats.”

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