Getting The Best Diet For Your Child

Q: My four-year-old daughter will eat nothing but hot dog slices and macaroni and cheese. I know she needs more variation in her diet, but she refuses to try anything else. I’ve tried everything I know. Hannah, help me!

A: Yuck-a-roni! Does anyone out there know why kids pick the grossest things to attach to? I’ve never had a child that absolutely had to have spinach fettuccine or roasted red pepper hummus…go figure! Anyway, the first thing you need to do is alter the hot dogs and macaroni and cheese. If she’s stuck, it may as well be a nutritious spot to get stuck in. Opt for veggie dogs or at least organic turkey or chicken franks. And here’s a trick I learned with macaroni and cheese. Add whole-wheat noodles to the enriched pasta and use unsweetened soymilk and trans-fat free buttery spread. But make the transition one step at a time so she doesn’t stage a revolt.

As far as adding variation in her diet, the best way to do this is to allow her to play a part in the process. Get some kid-friendly cookbooks (Rachael Ray has a great one out) and let her choose some recipes. Take her shopping to choose ingredients, and let her help you prepare meals. Even the youngest child can stir ingredients together or knead some dough. Once she starts trying her wings in the kitchen, her palette will follow right along. In the meantime, just make sure she is taking a multi-vitamin but remember you’re a mom, not a short-order cook. Sometimes the meal is the meal, and that’s all there is to it. Around our house, my kids get two choices—they can take it or leave it.

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