Chapter 10
Just Desserts
Enjoying Healthy
Food
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Happy
Endings
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TG at last understands the value of Phyto Power and eating healthily.
He actually enjoys eating the fruit and vegetables from the basket.
Everyone, including the baddies (who have been converted to Phyto Power) find the food at the banquet delicious – even though it is all healthy!
So - ask your children – are they
Phyto Powered Kids?
It is important that children understand what a healthy diet comprises of ……….. but choosing to eat one comes later.
Just because they know what healthy food is, doesn’t mean they like it.
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Children should be encouraged to try different foods, not forced to eat them.
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If a child doesn’t like a food the first time they try it, don’t give up. Just put a little on their plate each time it is on the family menu. Don’t make a fuss if they leave it.
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Eating as a family as much as possible is crucial in helping children try new foods. If the regularly see their parents and other members of the family experiencing new flavours the more likely they are to follow suit.
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Including children in food preparation is also a great way of getting them to try new things.
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Take children to the supermarket/greengrocers and get them to pick out a fruit or vegetable they haven’t tried. Then cut it up at home and have a family tasting session.
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Another version of the above is to get different varieties of a fruit e.g Cox’s, Pink Lady, Granny Smith’s. Which one do they like best? Can they tell the difference blind folded?
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I am a staunch believer in cooking from scratch. It is the only way to be sure of what is in your food – how much sugar, salt fat and obviously no additives.
The other helpful thing about it is, once you’ve cooked a cake or made pastry, you know exactly how much sugar and fat are in these items. This may help you think twice before buying commercially made versions.
If you don’t feel comfortable cooking from scratch then the recipe section of this website can help you. There are loads of scrummy, healthy recipes to try. They have step by step instructions and pictures of each stage.
Click here to go to recipes.
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Hopefully you and your family will become fully
Phyto Powered!
Here are some additional books/resources
Help! My Toddlers Not Eating
Every expectant mother AND father should read Help! My Toddler Is Not Eating before you have your baby. Then you’ll be aware of the signs of fussy eating and nip it in the bud if and when it happens. It’s far better to be armed with strategies than get caught out when you are having to deal with a fractious toddler.
The book is reassuring throughout and gives reasons as to why toddlers go through these phases.
Elizabeth sets out an easy to follow 30 day plan for parents to follow, with step by step guidance and explanations.
She also gently points out that sometimes inadvertently we can make matters worse, for instance by allowing our child to see that we don’t like a particular food.
I found all the background information really interesting - like the science of disgust and learned aversion - you’ll have to read it to find out!
And did you know there are super tasters? Are you one? There’s an easy little experiment you can do at home to find out .........
If you have a young child with allergies this book will help them feel so much better about it.
This is an uplifting book for children who have food allergies.
And a great way to help others understand what it is like to live with them.
Tercha’s book is beautifully written and the illustrations by Victoria Ward-Fowler are gorgeous.
It takes us through the feelings of children who have to watch others eating whatever they like, while they have to have something different.
The story, in rhyme, manages to help children not feel so alone with their allergy; while at the same time explaining to those who don’t have any to understand and empathise.
We are encouraged to focus on the things we can do, eat etc and not dwell on the things we can’t.
I've recorded the book on my YouTube Channel
