Limiting versus a flat out no

What happens to the Halloween candy in your house? You know, the candy those little kids worked so hard to get, walking from house to house and screaming "trick or treat" and holding out their candy bag. It is entirely too cute and too fun!

Yes, my kids get to eat their Halloween candy. And I have to admit, there are some pieces of candy the girls don't like, which happen to be mommy's favorite. However, we don't eat Halloween candy for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is all about moderation. I want to teach my kids that it is ok to have a treat now and then. It is not all about saying no, it is about having a limit.




This is true with all types of kids snacks. My girls love chips. They haven't met a chip they don't like; regular, sour cream and onion, barbecue, etc. The girls have chips for a snack or with lunch, but they are portioned out. It is easier as a mom (or dad) to say yes, than it is to say no. And for kids, once you have said yes, it is ok to just get a certain amount in a bowl or on a plate, rather than getting none.

In addition to teaching moderation, I try these tips as much as I can to help my girls get their veggies and fruits, as well as eating healthier and liking it:

1. Serving a little from each food group in every meal. It sounds hard, but adding a bowl of grapes or a plate of carrots to your table at lunch or dinner time is a great and easy way to incorporate fruits and veggies to your meal.
2. Be creative. My girls will munch on a veggie tray, but they will ask for ranch or some sort of sip for those veggies. I keep fat free ranch dressing on hand for these occasions. So I know the girls are eating their veggies, and liking it because they have a bit of dip. This is another place to teach moderation. It is not having a carrot with your ranch, it is having a bit of ranch with a carrot.
3. Making meals that incorporate veggies and fruits. We love chicken pie in our house. It is a great place for me to add a little extra veggies into the pie and the girls eat it up. Another place is sandwiches, adding extra veggies and then making a fun salad with the veggies that drop out of the sandwich.
4. Let your kids cook. Whether it is setting the table or getting right in the kitchen with me, pouring, stirring, opening and taste testing!
5. Lastly, and most importantly, BE CREATIVE! I have put food combinations together and tried so many different recipe ideas, it is crazy. Some sounded pretty gross, but ended up being really good. And others didn't sound so much like a fun desert, but ended up tasting wonderful. Be creative in your preparation and try, try and try some more. You never know what you will stumble on.