Healthy food for families: 20 quick and easy tips for dinner

Healthy food for families: 20 quick and easy tips for dinner

At the end of a certain weekday we packed lunch, kissed on our foreheads, went to work, drove carpools through the whole city, and now ... now it's time to cook dinner.

Here are twenty quick and simple tips for dinner that can also provide magical family memories.

1. Hold a lot of fresh vegetables. I love serving my children a plate with vegetables before dinner. Everything that is still on the plate for dinner is simply placed next to our other dishes on the dining table.

2. As you are in the supermarket, get a few fresh herbs. These can be installed in practically every recipe in no time at all, but they make up the difference in the taste of their food. It is particularly nice to have fresh basil, mint and coriander on hand.

3. Bring up something about the balance of the food on your plate. Discuss how many food groups are represented. So that this is more fun, we ask our children whether they eat a meal with all four food groups. And if not, is it a triangle (three food groups), a line (two food groups) or a point (a food group)? In this way, thinking about their decisions helps my young children visualize their decisions and strive for a square at every meal.

4. Hang a dry wiped table with the name of each family member on the wall or the refrigerator. In addition to your name, you can write down the number of fruit and vegetable varieties or the healthy decisions that you made that day.

5. Do not assume that your children want to or need thick spreads or sugar -containing sweeteners to spice up their food. Two of my children actually prefer toast without butter, waffles without syrup and salad without dressing.

6. Shoot vegetables such as broccoli, carrots and cauliflower in a food processor and add it to soups, pasta sauce, chilli or stews.

7. Be a good example. The more healthier food you eat, the more likely your children are (ultimately) eating it.

8. Use the Schongarer. There are often times during the day that are less hectic than the meal time. Choose a less stressful time and prepare a fast crock pot recipe. My children love helping to add ingredients to the slow cooker.

9. Make a casserole. The cooking Light magazine contains some wonderful recipes for fast dinner or prepared casseroles (also available online at cookinglight.com). Course can be a great place to smuggle even more vegetables.

10. Use the electrical indoor grill. I use mine to bring chicken to the table in less than 20 minutes from the frozen. And then I grill vegetables in 5 minutes. Everything tastes so fresh, healthy and tasty. I don't know what I've ever done without mine.

11. Create a bar. My children love sandwich bars, pasta bars, taco bars and potato bars. Provide the essentials and some healthy fillings and toppings, and you have a great meal in which everyone has control over what they eat.

12. Delivery! We love pizza and many restaurants (especially the gourmet pizza restaurants) now offer a healthy selection of pizzas with fresh vegetables. We order a veggie pizza and one with cheese if the children don't feel like spinach on their cake.

13. There is more to take away than the traditional greasy fast food dishes. Find a few restaurants that offer fast, healthy food to take away. It is certainly not a shame to order food.

14. Use your children to include your children in the cooking and baking process. Concentrate on creating positive memories before, during and after the meal. This can be a funny time of togetherness, so ask yourself: What would it make for your family members more pleasant? For example, you can let your children play your favorite music while preparing your dinner, preparing the salad or tablecloths.

15. Enter your children in the food shopping. Let them read labels with them and help to make healthy decisions for the family.

16. Make meals a family matter. Family meals are extremely important. Not only will you pay more conscious what types of food your children eat, but will also make a ritual from the family meal that can help to avoid unhealthy snacks before meals.

17. Just drink milk or water for dinner. Soda and other sugary drinks can fill their children with empty calories so that there is less space for good things.

18. Show your awe of peaceful family meals by initiating special rituals for everyday occasions. Eat on the good porcelain or try to dim the light and dine at candlelight.

19. During dinner, talk about the health benefits of different foods on your plate. Before you eat something, my children often ask: "What does this food do for my body?" And then we explain in relation to the specific food. This can require that you research something in advance (or as a family) so that you are familiar with the vitamin and nutrient content of your favorite dishes.

20. Switch off the television and radio and choose the conversation. If your children don't talk or argue, direct them by asking about their favorite pastime of the day. Everyone gets their turn and they have a peaceful meal. Maybe you like it so much that you also want to celebrate a breakfast together.