Making Kids understand about local seasons can bring diversity to their plate

• Image Credit: Internet

• Nov 15, 2022 | Kabir Chakraborty

From khakras to khichdi - variety is the spice of life after all.

Digital Desk: Educating children about seasonal foods has various benefits because it not only teaches them about food sources but also connects to other concepts such as time, weather and seasons. Here's how teaching them about local seasons might help them eat more diversely. 

Young children's health is currently suffering the most as junk food dominates healthy eating habits. The consequences of prioritizing flavour over health have proved devastating to children's health. Fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, play an important role in your child's health by meeting their bodies' nutrient requirements. Whether it's winter greens, summer greens, or rainy greens, fostering the habit of consuming seasonal goodies in children will provide them with several benefits

In an interview, Mansi Zaveri, Parenting Expert and Founder and CEO of Kidsstoppress suggested some helpful tips to instil seasonal food habits in kids: 

1. Involving kids in the process:

Bring your children with you when you go food shopping. Involve them in the preparation of the vegetables, such as chopping or peeling, and converse with them while cooking. When people are enthusiastic about the process, they will be enthusiastic about the end result on the plate.

 

2. No choices but more stories:

There is no optional meal provided for any member of the family unless they are allergic, of course. They learn to tolerate and appreciate it more when they observe everyone else consuming the same thing. Survival mode also kicks in when they realize they don't have an option.

 

3. Don’t fool them:

Never tell them to consume something and then entice them with a treat. This is the reward. You can't make this cuisine sound cheap to them.

 

4. It’s all or none:

It can never be an all-or-none approach. Most parents lose interest if the kid doesn’t eat the sabji, the dal and everything together and eats only one of them. Treat family favourites just like how you introduce solids to your kids. One at a time. You expose them but you are really aiming for them to be like one of the many. It’s a great start. Let them try everything from broccoli to lauki. From khakras to khichdi - variety is the spice of life after all.

Remember, children always imitate what their parents believe in. So you need to start these young and healthy habits for the entire family. When you take kids on a trip, let them try the local cuisine. If they don’t like it, don't push it. Food can never be forced, it has to be enjoyed. Always respect your child’s food preferences.