We can tend to think of some foods as those for kids or those for adults, when we should just think of food as food for everyone!! When we make assumptions that kids will not like a food because it is not a typical food a child eats, we do not give them the chance to try new things. We often also label foods as those kids “like” and “don’t like” rather than continuing to offer them, prepared in different manners, letting kids continue to try them (it can take up to 15-20 times with the exact same food) and come to a conclusion on their own rather than not offering it at all. Approaching foods with an open mind, regardless of who we think will like them or not like them, we give kids the chance to expand the foods they eat to get more nutrition out of every single meal and snack. Sometimes we also fall into the trap of avoiding giving very healthy items to kids because we as adults do not enjoy them ourselves. When it comes to meals and snacks, keep an open mind, be mindful of your statements while kids are eating or trying a food, and let them be adventurous with their palates!
A favorite snack of ours is a very fast, homemade sushi, which kids can even take to school for lunch! It’s a fun DIY meal, which is packed full of omega-3 healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and various textures. It’s a great substitute for other common foods low in nutrition, especially cereal.
Image from http://chowdivine.com/roasted-or-toasted-seaweed-snacks-gim/
Ingredients
- Packet of plain seaweed
- Avocado, sliced
- Brown rice
- Sliced cucumber
- Sliced Bell pepper
- Grated carrot
- Lettuce
- Mango (optional)
- Tuna canned in water (optional)
- Canned organic chicken (optional)
Directions
- Have kids fill seaweed with their vegetables and/or protein of choice to enjoy mini sushi rolls.
- Top with Sriracha chili sauce instead of teriyaki (if kids enjoy spice)
- Roll up and enjoy any time of the day!
Written by Dahlia Marin, RDN
