We all want to see our kids eating healthy foods. Processed foods just do not give the vitamins and nutrients developing bodies need to produce energy. A rapidly growing body often does better with numerous small meals throughout the day than three squares daily, so encouraging healthy snacking can benefit your shild’s growth and development.

Serve Organic Fruits and Vegetables

Avoid foods grown using chemical fertilizers or pesticides. A child’s developing body is at greater risk of the ill-effects of chemicals and unnatural ingredients.

The Less Processing the Better

The more processing a food product undergoes, the less vitamins and nutrients it offers. Try keeping an ongoing supply of fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables on hand to satisfy your kid’s snack cravings.Fewer Ingredients Are Best

Look at the list of ingredients on anything your serve your kids. Try to serve the products that have the least ingredients. By doing this, you limit the amount of preservatives and artificial flavors your child is ingesting.

Combine Items from Different Food Groups

By adding some variety, you encourage your child to enjoy healthier snacks. Try to introduce flavorful healthy snack choices to keep the kids away from candy and chips.

Keep Junk Food Out of the House

What is out of sight is out of mind. If your pantry is not loaded down with candy and unhealthy desserts, your child will probably not think about those things or miss them. Occasional treats are not so bad, but by not supplying those foods on a regualr basis and giving healthy replacements, you encourage your kids to eat right from an early age.

Make or Buy Healthy Sweet Snacks

Kids are always going to want sweet snacks. Try fruit smoothies or frozen yogurt or sorbet to satisfy the sweet tooth without loading them down with junk.

Pack Healthy Snacks for Car Rides

Having some healthy snacks packed in sandwich bags for car trips means the kids will be less likely to get hungry and beg to stop at a fast-food place. Granola, dried fruit, and vegetable sticks all work well for this.

Have Your Child Help Make Healthy Snacks

Getting your kid involved in making healthy snacks also makes them want to eat their creations. Use cookie cutters to make sandwiches into interesting shapes.

Avoid Genetically Modified Foods

This one is a bit more tricky, since there is no regulation requiring manufacturers to label products that include genetically modified foods, or meat products that were fed genetically modified foods. Do research on the companies to find out if such products were used; if in doubt, buy only organic foods.

Be Creative When Introducing New Foods

Try using sweet potatoes to make baked French fries. Make a grilled mozzarella cheese sandwich. Children enjoy new experiences, and by making healthy foods new and interesting, your kids will be more likely to eat them.