Crystal Higgins

The Flexitarian Dietitian: Healthy Treats. Nourishing Eats. Fitness Feats

  • Home
  • Contact Page
  • Food Philosophy
  • About
  • Services
  • Recipes
  • Media
  • Running
  • Travel

Top Tips for Family Meals

October 2, 2020 by Crystal

Family Meals Can be STRESSFUL!!!

IMG_1842

I can’t guarantee that you’re kids will eat what you serve them, but I hope a few of these tips will help you have a little more fun in the kitchen and ease some of the tension.

IMG_0449

1. Include your KIDS.

Getting the whole family involved reduces your stress and will pass valuable food skills on to your kids. The ability and skills needed to participate in food prep will of course be age and stage dependent. Even younger kids are able to do small tasks like measuring ingredients, pouring or dumping chopped veggies in the bowl. Meal prep and planning does not have to be invisible labour. Including your family in the process helps them to understand how much is involved with getting a healthy family meal on the table. Kids may also be more likely to eat what they’ve had a hand in preparing.

TIP: The earlier in the day you start including your kids the better! Ask your kids to help chop or measure ingredients BEFORE the 6pm dinner rush!!

IMG_2537

2. Make Fun Food!

Eating a wide variety of colourful foods is the backbone to a healthy diet. However, it can be VERY challenging to get your kids to eat vegetables (usually fruit is an easier sell because it’s sweet!). Try using dips such as hummus, ranch, queso dip or guacamole. You could even get them to help you make a homemade yogurt ranch dip! Channel your inner artist and create fun faces, animals or shapes using chopped vegetables, fruit, dried fruit, nuts or seeds. If accessible, seasonal cookie cutters or small shape cutters are fun to include. Food processors can be seen as fun “machines” to help grate carrots or zucchini into various meals or baked goods.

IMG_FE1F96127A80-1

@crystalhiggins_rd

3. Be Flexible.

There is nothing more heart-wrenching than seeing your family’s disapproval at your latest kitchen creation. Cooking for your family is a labour of love! Learning to adjust your expectations to accept that some meals will be great and others might not be is a work in progress. In the words of Frozen, you just have to “Let It GO”. TIP: A good rule of thumb is to expect that your child will sit at the table for 1-2 minutes per year of age. For example, if you have a 3 year old, expect that they can sit with you for at least 3-6 minutes; anything more than this is a win!

IMG_1964 3IMG_2635IMG_1959

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Nutrition Updates Tagged With: eat better eat together, eat together bc, family dinner, family meal tips, family meals, feeding children, tips for family meals

« Tuna Melts
Peanut Satay Power Bowl »
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome!

IMG_3781-e1428385595930

Welcome, I'm Crystal! As a registered dietitian and fitness enthusiast I'm here to share how delicious, healthy food can fit into your busy schedule. Follow me for healthy treats, nourishing eats and fitness feats.

Featured Posts

Green Monster Blender Muffins

April 27, 2021 By Crystal

These green monster blender muffins are a sneaky snack 🙂 They taste just as indulgent as a typical banana muffin, but it’s like drinking a veggie smoothie (in muffin format)!!! Filled with fibre, omega 3’s and antioxidants, these tasty muffins are perfect to have on hand. Here’s what you need:

Chocolate Banana Carrot Patch Muffins

April 7, 2021 By Crystal

How cute are these carrot patch muffins? This recipe is totally customizable to create with or without the chocolate covered strawberries. The chocolate banana muffins are packed with fibre, whole fruit and have a delicious fudgey chocolate finish. I’m proud to be partnering with Gnusante Gnubees for this post! Gnubees is a local BC beverage…

Read More »

Air Fryer Cauliflower Bites

February 6, 2021 By Crystal

These cauliflower bites are the perfect addition to complement your GAME DAY snack buffet. I have a similar recipe that’s made in the oven, but I wanted to try these in my new Pampered Deluxe Chef Air Fryer! I left a few of them “naked” without the spicy sauce, so that they are approachable to everyone,…

Read More »

Crystal Higgins

IMG_3776

Instagram

Search

Categories

Archives

  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress