Discover the secret to getting your family to eat the healthy food you cook without fighting

How many times have you heard, “Ewwwww. I’m not eating that!” from your children after you’ve slaved away in the kitchen for hours to prepare a healthy meal for your family? Mama, we have all been there and it’s the worst!! Believe it or not, it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s possible to have your family eat healthy foods without tantrums and fights. Seriously!

When I started changing my own nutrition six years ago, I didn’t think my family would ever get on board. My husband wasn’t interested in trying my new “diet” and my kids weren’t keen on the idea of not eating chicken nuggets every day. But I was determined to not only improve my nutrition but theirs as well.

We still struggle occasionally - picky eaters can be tough! - but I am so thrilled with the changes we’ve made to our nutrition. My kids are happy to eat healthy foods and even understand how to feed themselves nutritious foods depending on the situation. 

These are the four most effective changes I implemented with my family to stop the fighting and get them to eat healthy foods willingly! I hope they work just as well for your family!

Include them in the planning process

First and foremost, if you want your family to be excited about this change you can’t force it on them. No one likes being told what to do, and this applies to our spouse and kids. If they’re told they have to start eating broccoli, they’ll dig their feet in and not want to do it, even if they like broccoli!

Instead, set everyone up for success by inviting them to participate in healthy eating. You can explain that you’re going to be making changes to the food that the family eats, but you want them to make the decision to join you. This simple invitation allows your family to commit to the process instead of being forced into it.

Once you have your family on board, you still have to keep them in the process. Have them help decide what meals you eat. That way they continue to be invested in their health. Let them choose new healthy foods to try when you’re grocery shopping. Anytime you can give your kids (or spouse!) the chance to make a choice do it!

Stock your pantry with the foods you want them eating

Changing your habits can be hard. I know that cravings for Oreos and ice cream don’t go away just because you’ve committed to living healthier. The easiest way to beat those cravings is to keep them far away!

Not having junk food in your pantry makes it harder to eat it. Plain and simple. The same thing goes for our kids. If we don’t want them eating fruit snacks for every meal, then either put them out of reach, or simply don’t keep them in the house!

You are the mom. You are the person who controls what comes into your home and if you feel strongly about something, you have the power to change it!

Don’t expect your kids to be ok with a big change like this right away. Obviously, they’re used to eating certain foods, and for them to just be gone all of a sudden is going to freak them out. Instead of going cold turkey, start by offering a healthier option when they ask for the snack you’re trying to get rid of.

So, if we’re sticking with our fruit snacks example, when your kids ask for fruit snacks, offer real fruit instead. If they still want a fruit snack after eating real fruit, that’s ok! They’ve made a step towards something healthier and now they can have the treat they want. But over time you can replace that fruit snack with the real fruit and they won’t be upset, because they’ve created a new habit.

You can use this same trick for your own vices! You don’t have to do it perfectly at first! In fact, if you try to be perfect from the beginning, you probably won’t succeed. Instead, take it step by step and day by day. 

Don’t take away their favorite food, just make healthy swaps

Eating healthy is a marathon, not a sprint. You can’t change every single thing right away. This goes for your kid’s favorite foods and meals! Instead of cutting out chicken nuggets altogether, find a healthier way to serve your kids their favorite foods!

Although most “kid” foods aren’t considered nutritious, there are a lot of ways to improve them! For example, I like to use whole wheat, or even protein pasta in mac and cheese. It tastes the same, but it packs more protein into each bite!

I also help my kids understand how to balance their plates so that they can still enjoy their favorite foods, and get the nutrients they need at each meal. We use this technique a lot when we go out to eat. If they choose a main dish like chicken nuggets, instead of adding french fries as the side, we opt for a fruit or veggie.

If you use these tools and talk about them like it’s a normal thing, not a sacrifice, then your kids will be more open to them!

Don’t force it.

I have given you a lot of tips and tricks to help get your family on board with healthy eating, but I want to finish off with one key piece: don’t force your family into your plan. We talked about inviting your family to join you. Remember, that an invitation doesn’t guarantee that they’ll do it. It gives them a chance to jump on board, or to just observe. Both options are acceptable.

In a perfect world, our families would join us happily and be excited about living healthy, but life isn’t perfect. Your husband may not want to eat the healthy food you’re cooking. Your teenagers might put up a stink and make their own food. Your toddlers will refuse to eat the broccoli.

Food is a big deal. We draw a lot of comfort from our food and it can be a big thing to change. Don’t be upset or surprised if it takes time for the family to get on board.

If your family isn’t ready to change, then lead by example. Continue to stock your fridge and pantry with healthy foods. Keep offering them veggies! Eventually, your family will see that what you’re doing isn’t as hard or scary as they though and they’ll start making small choices to join you.

Changing your lifestyle is hard, and you absolutely need support if you want to be successful, so if your family isn’t on board, then let me be your cheerleader! In fact, I have a whole squad of women ready to cheer you on, sympathize and walk through this journey with you! Schedule a free discovery call today and we’ll get you in our crew!