How Nannies Can Encourage Healthy Eating Habits in Kids
Helping children learn to develop healthy eating habits is one of the most valuable skills we can teach them, and in-home nannies can play an important role in establishing these habits for the long term. By planning healthier meals, offering a variety of new foods to try, and teaching kids how to tell the differences between healthy and unhealthy foods, nannies and parents in the Bay Area can work together to encourage children to develop healthy eating habits.
Plan Healthier Meals Together
Planning is half the battle when helping kids eat healthier at home, but it’s a critical first step. Collaborative meal planning between nannies and parents ensures that children eat nutritious meals everyday and also helps make mealtime easier for everyone.
Including kids throughout the planning process can be a great way to get them more interested in healthy eating. Depending on the child’s age, they can help choose a food of the week or pick a fruit or veggie for snack time. Some kids may even enjoy helping their nannies cook simple recipes.
Some parents and nannies may want to collaborate with a recipe-sharing system, where each party shares kid-friendly recipes to try. With a bit of planning and teamwork, nannies and parents can ensure that the kids are not only eating well, but also enjoying the journey to a healthier lifestyle.
Expand Palates with a Variety of Foods and Flavors
Children tend to benefit from being exposed to a wide variety of foods, flavors, and textures at an early age. With parents’ permission and involvement, nannies can introduce kids in their care to a world of new foods with a relaxed, curiosity-first approach. For example, switching out familiar snacks like apples or carrots with other options like mango or apricots can add variety to their meals.
Nannies can help children approach these foods with curiosity by explaining where they come from or why they’re unique. They may also encourage a “one-bite” rule, where kids are invited to taste a small bite without any pressure to finish if they don’t like what they’re eating.
A child’s nanny can also serve a healthy role model. Young children in particular tend to mimic the behavior of adults they trust, so when they see their nanny enjoying a fruit salad or a salmon dish with leafy greens, they’re more likely to try it themselves.
Teach About Nutrition with a Fun, Hands-On Approach
Children are naturally curious creatures who want to learn new things. In-home nannies can make engaging in healthy eating habits a fun and interactive adventure with hands-on experiences and educational materials made for kids.
For example, nannies can share clips from kid-friendly cooking shows and try to recreate the dish. Additionally, there are lots of apps designed for children on the market that make healthy eating into a game, helping kids learn about food groups, vitamins, and more without adding pressure to their choices.
If space allows, small cooking or gardening projects around the home can engage kids with simple cooking tasks and teach them how the food we eat is grown and cultivated. When healthy eating feels like a quest or game, kids are more likely to develop lifelong, positive habits around food, and a great nanny can help them get there.
Contact SF Nannies for Quality Nanny Services in San Francisco
By planning balanced meals, offering lots of new options to try, and making healthy eating fun, nannies can help the children in their care build a lifelong love for nutritious foods. Get in touch with SF Nannies to learn about what sets our background-checked, highly qualified nanny professionals apart from the rest in the Bay Area today.
