Tips for Making Healthy Dinners for Kids

| 2 min read

Image of a dad making dinner with his son.
At the end of a long day it is nice to come together as a family to enjoy a good meal. Meals shared with family provide more than just nutrients for kids, they also provide brain food.
Researchers have found that dinnertime conversations help young children learn approximately 1,000 additional rare words compared to only 143 from parents reading books aloud. Studies also show that children who eat dinner with their family will consume more fruits, vegetables and vitamins, and are more likely to continue healthy eating habits as they age. They’re also less likely to fall into the temptations of drugs and alcohol.
Try the following tips to make your evening meal as nutritious as possible:
  • Be sure to include all five food groups.
  • Dinner is a great time to introduce new foods to children. Remember, it can take 10-15 times of trying a food before a child will acquire a taste for it.
  • Encourage kids to eat fruits and vegetables. If they have a hard time eating them, try implementing a rewards system.
What is your favorite meal to cook with your family? Let us know in the comments below.
If you enjoyed this post, you may also be interested in:
Photo credit: jacoblund
This post has been updated from a version originally published Oct. 3, 2016.

A Healthier Michigan is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit, independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
No Personal Healthcare Advice or Other Advice
This Web site provides general educational information on health-related issues and provides access to health-related resources for the convenience of our users. This site and its health-related information and resources are not a substitute for professional medical advice or for the care that patients receive from their physicians or other health care providers.
This site and its health-related information resources are not meant to be the practice of medicine, the practice of nursing, or to carry out any professional health care advice or service in the state where you live. Nothing in this Web site is to be used for medical or nursing diagnosis or professional treatment.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other licensed health care provider. Always consult your health care provider before beginning any new treatment, or if you have any questions regarding a health condition. You should not disregard medical advice, or delay seeking medical advice, because of something you read in this site.