Community Corner

Moms Talk: How Do You Get Your Kids to Eat Healthy?

Local Editor Dawn Aulet admits that not every meal is a nutritional award-winner.

When my boys were babies, I was a food Nazi. I began breastfeeding, although I admit it did not last very long. I had medical complications after delivery. But, both of my boys got a good week of mother's milk, enough to get colostrum to help boost their infant immunity. When we moved on to baby food, I shopped in the organic section. The boys got 100 percent juice, diluted with water so their sugar intake wasn't too high. And, my oldest son never ate anything with nuts, tree nuts or peanuts, until he was three. I was trying to prevent him from inheriting my tree nut allergy. I was successful, by the way.

My boys are now 9 and 6 and healthy eating is more complicated than choosing organic jarred carrots or non-organic. They have food preferences and their own opinions. And while I admit that my family visits McDonalds more often than we should ( I have friends who would insist that once is more than we should), I try to give my kids healthy options to balance the scales. I still buy 100 percent fruit juice. There are always fresh vegetables and fruits in my house. When I cook dinner, my kids often choose spinach over corn.

My youngest could survive on just fruit. Bananas are eaten in my house before they brown and I have to eat grapes the minute they come home or there aren't going to be any left for me.

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I have, however, relaxed in my old age. While apples, celery, carrots and pears are bought from the organic section, bananas and oranges are not. My kids drink 100 percent juice when they chose juice, but they are allowed to have the occasional soda.

So, the question is this: How do you get your kids to eat healthy?

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