Involving Your Children
Build Healthy Habits Together!
Including your children in meal planning and prep is a great way to teach lifelong skills and healthy habits. Using MyPlate as a guide, you can create balanced, budget-friendly meals while helping your kids build confidence in the kitchen. Whether it’s choosing veggies at the store or stirring up a simple recipe, involving your children makes healthy eating a fun, hands-on learning experience.
Activities as a Family
🌱 Grow a family garden. It could be as simple as a few pots of herbs or maybe you’re ready to turn that bare patch of lawn into a thriving vegetable garden. Whatever you decide, invite your child to help choose which fruits, veggies and herbs to grow. Involve them in watering and caring for the plants and enjoy the excitement on their face when it’s finally time to harvest!
👩🍳 Allow your child to be a chef for the day. Have them fill their plate with all five MyPlate food groups – fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy. It’s a fun, hands-on way to teach them about balanced meals. Then, head to the kitchen together! Encourage your child to help with age-appropriate tasks, such as washing veggies, stirring ingredients or setting the table. Cooking together not only builds their kitchen skills but also fosters a sense of accomplishment and healthy habits.
🚶 Get moving together! Boost your daily steps by exploring a local walking path or trail. Turn it into a fun adventure by giving your child a nature scavenger hunt. Ask them to search for items with different colors, shapes or textures. They’ll stay engaged and curious while you both enjoy fresh air and exercise!
☀️ Change up your routine. Make the most of sunny days with a picnic at a local park or beach. It’s a fun way to enjoy the outdoors and a healthy meal. Pack a variety of foods to include all 5 MyPlate food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy in your picnic basket!
Cooking as a Family
📑 Keep recipes simple. Choose easy recipes like no-bake peanut butter bites or a creamy veggie mac & cheese. The focus is on involving your child in the process, whether they help stir, chop or set the table. This builds their confidence and makes them feel proud of their contributions!
🔪 Divide the responsibilities. If your family has multiple members, divide up the tasks when preparing a meal. One can chop, another can stir, someone can wash veggies and someone else can set the table.
🍽️ Try a potluck-style dinner. If you have a larger family, make the main dish yourself and have everyone else pitch in with side dishes. This gives children autonomy while also helping to save you time in the kitchen.
⭐ Cut fun shapes with fruits and veggies. Make eating nutritious foods fun by cutting fruits and veggies into fun shapes. Having your child help with this will make it even more enjoyable for them!
📵 At the dinner table, put distractions aside. Turn off the TV, phones and tablets during mealtime and start a conversation. Ask everyone to share their “Rose, Bud and Thorne” for the day.
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Rose = something that went really well today
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Bud = something they are looking forward to
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Thorne = something that didn’t go so well today
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Helpful Family Resources
Looking for easy ways to involve your child in building healthy habits? These online resources make learning about nutrition simple and hands-on. From MyPlate activities to kid-friendly recipes, these tools help children understand the importance of balanced meals while having fun in the kitchen and at the table.
Food Safety Charts
Learn the basics of food safety, from proper cooking temperatures to safe storage tips that help prevent foodborne illness. Use these food safety charts for easy guidance on cooking, storing and keeping your food safe in any situation.
MyPlate Kitchen
Discover a variety of healthy, budget-friendly recipes with MyPlate Kitchen. This easy-to-use resource offers step-by-step instructions, nutrition tips and meal ideas that include all five MyPlate food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and dairy.
What’s On MyPlate
MyPlate is a simple reminder to build a healthy, balanced plate. Use MyPlate’s tools to set goals, plan meal and save money. Then join the conversation and share your healthy choices with #WhatsOnMyPlate!
Healthy Families Cookbook
The Hunger Task Force “Healthy Families Cookbook” is a wonderful kitchen companion for the whole family! This cookbook provides a budget-friendly resource for students, families and school partners to cook up new dishes that make healthy choices fun and easy for kids. Packed with a variety of easy, nutritious recipes designed to delight both kids and adults, this cookbook is your gateway to creating wholesome meals that the whole family will love.
With step-by-step instructions and handy tips, even the littlest chefs can get involved in the kitchen, making mealtime a fun, interactive experience for the entire family. Say goodbye to the struggle of convincing picky eaters to enjoy their veggies, because our recipes are cleverly crafted to make nutritious ingredients irresistible.
All of these recipes can be modified depending on allergies, food restrictions and family needs!