Growing your own can help get kids on the path to healthy eating

Getting kids to eat healthy food can be one of the toughest challenges a parent can come up against, but there is a way to make it fun and educate them at the same time.

While we all know that kids can turn their noses up at green vegetables, they also seem to be magnets to dirt. If you want to get kids to eat their vegetables, then playing on their seemingly constant desire to get mucky may be a path worth exploring.

Educating kids about where various fruit and vegetables come from is a good start, but instead of showing them pictures on your phone or in gardening books, why not take them along to real market garden where vegetables are grown.

Many small farms now allow members of the public to come in and pick their own produce for a small fee. If you tell your kids they can pull out vegetables from the ground and take them home and cook them, they will find this great fun and are more likely to try eating them too.

You can take things up a level by trying to start your own little vegetable patch at home and getting your kids to quite literally ‘muck in’.

This will have a range of benefits. For a start, it’ll give you an extra pair of hands in the garden. It will also encourage them to take responsibility and, when they do get to pick their finished produce, they will get a great sense of achievement. Then they can enjoy using their own homegrown produce in the kitchen by helping you cook a healthy meal.

Find more family fun ideas with the books from www.viewermax.com.

Meal ideas for larger families

Meal planning can be a tricky game all year round and especially for a family that includes picky eaters. However, meal planning doesn’t have to be boring or hard as there are loads of simple and tasty recipes even the fussiest eater will eat.

Fajita night - Mealtimes should be a fun and inclusive experience for all the family, and that’s why fajitas are a great idea. You'll be able to cook and prep all the fajitas and lay everything out on the table - and then everyone can pick what they want in theirs. It’ll save some family members picking things out they don’t like and allow everyone to take control of their dinner - plus they’re extra yummy.

Mac & cheese - If you’re interested in creating a hearty dish for a family with no allergies, Mac & cheese is a classic. It’s one of those easy dishes that don’t involve much work but are really appreciated by kids as it’s more of a ‘treat meal’.

Lasagna and salad - The beauty with lasagna is there are loads of ways you can alter a traditional recipe, from changing out the meat to changing the different cheeses. It’s a layered meal that can be accompanied with loads of sides such as salad and bread. Like fajitas, lay all the sides on the table so everyone is able to pick what they like to eat.

Homemade pizzas - Dinner as a family is always that extra bit of fun when everyone has got involved. Homemade pizzas are a great way to do that as everybody can choose which toppings they’d like and watch as it cooks in the oven.

Discover more recipe inspiration for family dinners over at www.viewermax.com.