It’s amazing how parents’ roles change so much in a relatively short period of time. Life used to be all about swaddling and snuggling. But now? Have you ever seen anyone as busy as your kid? There’s playing and constructing and imagining and dressing up and creating and climbing and so much more. We’re just there, skirting around the edges, standing in as an imaginary character when instructed, and schlepping to and from classes, school, and play dates. Mostly we’re making sure they have the energy to pull off all of this fun! This means breakfast, snack, enforcing a nap, lunch, snack, dinner, water, water, and more water—and knowing just when that blood sugar might dip and get in the way of their play. Preemptive snacking is truly a parental art form.
What you offer your big kid (four years and up!) for these meals and snacks is really important. Here’s the thing—it doesn’t matter if your child had a 100 percent homemade organic diet from the moment she started gumming solids or if she has been a really picky eater. What matters is now. What you put on the plate this very moment. Kids of all ages need nutrition to grow. And it’s never, ever too late to start with healthy eating. If this is what you’re already doing as a family, great, continue on—please pass the kale! But if healthy eating is new to you, or if you’re in a bit of a rut, here are some suggestions to make it an effortless part of your family life. Just remember to take the long view. The total sum of what your child eats throughout a day or even a week is what counts. Enjoy!

SNACK SMART

MAKE TIME FOR FAMILY MEAL

EAT WELL

YOU HAVE A MINI CHEF

WHO ARE YOU CALLING PICKY

MAKE FAST FOOD SLOW

TAKE BACK THE LUNCH BOX
WRITTEN BY PLUM ORGANICS
The advice provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis, advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Always consult a pediatrician to understand the individual needs of your child.