I want my son to learn to eat well, but I don’t want him to feel forced. I try to give him healthy options at home, but at school, it’s a different story. I see him come back with his lunch box intact, and he tells me that he preferred to eat pizza or French fries with his friends. I understand that he’s a kid and wants to enjoy himself, but I’m worried that he’s not getting the nutrients he needs. Sometimes I notice that he lacks energy or complains of a headache, and I wonder if that’s why. I don’t want to obsess over it, but I also don’t want him to grow up with bad habits. I try to talk to him and explain the importance of a good diet without it sounding like a sermon. Any advice?
Omg, I feel this so much. My daughter is 10, and she went through the exact same thing last year. She’d bring back her lunch untouched and then tell me she had cookies and chips instead. I started involving her in meal prep, letting her choose healthy options she actually liked. I also made some “fun” versions of healthy meals, like homemade pizza with whole wheat crust or baked sweet potato fries. It’s still a struggle sometimes, but I’ve found that making her part of the process helped a lot. Hang in there, you’re not alone!
Ugh, this is so frustrating! I don’t even know how many times I’ve packed a “balanced” lunch just to have it come back untouched. And then, of course, they’re starving when they get home. It’s like, how do you get them to actually eat the good stuff when their friends are all having junk food? I totally get the worry about bad habits forming. I don’t have the answer, but I hear you!
It gets better, I promise! My oldest is 13 now, and while he went through a phase of only wanting junk, he eventually started making better choices. I think it helps when they hear about nutrition from other sources, maybe a fun YouTube channel or a book that explains why good food matters. Also, sometimes peer pressure works in your favor! If a friend starts eating healthier, your son might be more open to it. Keep modeling the habits at home, and eventually, it’ll click
Wow, I’m dealing with the same thing! My son is 8, and I swear he would live off of mac & cheese if I let him. I’ve been thinking about how to make healthy food more appealing, but it’s hard when schools offer so many tempting options. Have you tried talking to him about what foods make him feel good vs. what makes him feel sluggish? I wonder if connecting the dots for them helps
This was such a struggle with my daughter when she was 9, but I found a few tricks that really helped. First, I started talking about food in terms of “fuel” for her body instead of “good vs. bad.” We also started doing little “experiments,” like eating a healthy breakfast one day and sugary cereal the next to see which made her feel better. She started noticing how much better she felt when she ate real food. Also, I found that letting her help make her lunch made a difference, when she put the effort in, she was more likely to eat it. It’s a long game, but consistency pays off!
I’ve been through this with both my kids (now 12 and 8), and what worked for us was focusing on balance rather than strict rules. If they want pizza, fine, but we talk about adding something fresh to balance it out. At home, we keep healthy snacks front and center, like cut-up fruit and nuts, so they’re the first thing they grab. Also, leading by example is huge. If they see us choosing healthy foods without making a big deal about it, they naturally follow suit. It’s frustrating now, but keep planting those seeds!
I was in your shoes a few years ago, and what I learned is that making food a battle never works. Instead, I started focusing on educating my kids on how food affects their mood, energy, and even skin. We watched some cool, kid-friendly documentaries on Netflix about food and health. One trick that helped was letting them experiment in the kitchen, when they made their own meals, they took more pride in eating them. And honestly, I had to accept that sometimes they’ll eat junk, and that’s okay. It’s the overall habits that matter more than every single meal
This is tough, but there are some strategies that might help! One idea is to make small swaps, if he loves fries, try baking them at home with olive oil. If he’s into pizza, try making a healthier homemade version together. Also, have you considered talking to the school? Some schools allow parents to submit meal preferences or even work with them to offer healthier options. And maybe try a “challenge” at home, see if he can eat one fruit and one veggie a day and track how he feels over a week. Turning it into a game might make it more fun and less of a chore!