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As a child of a self-professed health nut, I've experienced firsthand organic, gluten-free, and preservative-free foods that aren't so kind to the taste buds. But I must admit, my mom did introduce new foods to me in creative ways, such as arranging carrots into smiley faces and sneaking bits of broccoli into creamy chocolate milkshakes. If your child's diet consists of Oreos, McDonalds, Chips Ahoy!, and greasy pizza, and their idea of healthy is fruit-flavored gummi bears, it's time for a change. Little by little, you can slowly introduce new foods into your child's life, so hopefully they will make the right choices when it comes to eating right. Here are some tips and tricks to help you and your child create a new diet plan that you will both love.

1) Combine old favorites with new fruits and veggies.
This is a favorite trick of mine; for a twist on the simple taco, mix in diced tomatoes and bits of spinach for an entree that is both healthy and delicious. Don't draw attention to the fact that you are adding new ingredients to their old favorites; maybe they won't notice. This should continue throughout the day, with breakfast being fat-free oatmeal with blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries on top in place of sugar-loaded honey. For lunch, pack them a Mexican salad, with pieces of deli ham, chopped lettuce, a sprinkling of tomatoes, a handful of corn, and a spoonful of guacamole on top in place of dressing. Jessica Seinfeld, (yes, Jerry Seinfeld's wife), has recently published a book entitled Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food, which includes more recipes that are both healthy and delicious.

2) Don't force them to eat anything.
No matter how old your child is, don't force them to eat anything that they don't want to, because they will end up resenting you more. Believe me, the shoving of healthy foods down a child's throat involuntarily usually doesn't end up without tears. If they don't enjoy something that you have prepared, simply tell them to push it to the side of their plate and continue with the rest of the meal. One thing that you must do, however, is coax them to take at least one bite before they deem it "gross", because how will they know if they like something if they have never tried it?

3) Stop ordering off of the children's menu.
Whenever you go out to eat at a classy restaurant with your family, aren't you sick and tired of seeing the same calorie-loaded foods offered on the children's menu? Grilled cheese, french fries, macaroni and cheese, and hamburgers are American classics, but if your child wants to expand their taste in fine cuisine, you need to stop paying $6 for a bunch of junk. Instead, have them look over the adult menu and see if anything new catches their eye, such as seared salmon or French onion soup. Since adult portions are absolutely gigantic in this country, share an entree with your child to save you both a couple hundred calories.

In conclusion, your child not only needs to branch out of their comfort zone when it comes to food, but they also have to change their overall diet. Healthy is always the right way to go. Happy munching!

Learn more about this author, Julia Elizabeth Lynch.
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