Do you wonder how to get your kids eating homemade food? To foster a preference in kids for nutritious food options, it is essential to inculcate healthy eating culture at home, especially in early childhood.

Well-nourished children grow up strong and healthy with a well-functioning immune system. Nourishment does not necessarily have to come solely from packaged nutrition products. When you make an effort to feed your child with your own healthy homemade food, you add personal touch and goodness to the growth of your little one. There are innumerable ways to make healthy food for little children at home.

Though commercially available foods are an easy option, you cannot entirely rely on them for your child’s nourishment and growth. Making an effort to feed your child with healthy and additive-free homemade food with a variety of nutritious ingredients in childhood will make it easier for you to introduce new food to kids as they grow, helps you ensure that your child is eating healthy and safe food and also encourages your child develop healthy eating habits early in life.

The sooner a child is introduced to nutritious homemade food, the easier you will find it to help them eat well-balanced food and naturally prefer homemade food. You can also reduce the risk of food allergies in children when you make food at home, as you are in control of the ingredients that go into the dish.

Homemade foods to introduce in early childhood (toddlers) are: Chopped fruits, well cooked egg, beans, potato, sweet potato, and whole grains, hummus, yogurt, steamed broccoli, peas, and carrots.

Mistakes to avoid

• Avoid sticky food that could stick in the back of the mouth
• Large chunks of food like cheese or meat
• Whole fruits like grapes, and berries
• Hard fruits and vegetables (uncooked)

When introducing new food to children keep these points in mind:

• Give them a small portion of the new food
• Select food that is easy for toddlers to chew and soft
• As much as possible provide them fresh and nutritious food
• Avoid foods that could cause choking in toddlers
• Avoid negotiating or rewarding for trying the new food
• Stay positive and don’t give up your efforts
• Introduce one new food at a time and not many, to make it easier to identify any allergies or intolerance
• As you introduce new flavors and taste, find out their favorites and allow them to explore
• Choose food that is high in nutrients and easy to digest

Benefits of Homemade food

• Eating homemade food that is free from chemical additives, artificial sweeteners, hormones, and unhealthy ingredients helps kids grow into healthy and happy adults, keeping them from obesity, and other health problems.
• It equips them to choose healthier food options even when they eat outside at times. Make sure to switch off screens such as TV or laptops when eating at home and connect with each other over mealtime.
• Eating meals together can help promote mental wellbeing for the family, especially little kids.
• The healthy and nutritious ingredients in homemade food helps kids develop a strong immune system.
• Kids get the essential nutrients from meals made at home, promoting their overall growth and development.
• Cooking at home, helps you take care of your child’s specific dietary needs such as certain food allergies, or intolerance. It helps you design a meal customized to your child’s nutritional needs, ensuring optimal nutrition.
• Eating homemade food consistently helps kids develop healthy eating habits, and make conscious food choices that help them choose nutritious food over processed and unhealthy food.

Do share your ideas in the comments to encourage kids eat homemade food.