5 Ways to Keep Kids Healthy During the Holidays<\/h2>\r\n
As a mom of three, I’ve sort of figured out how to navigate the holiday party madness, so I’m not working myself up about what the kids eat (or don’t eat). Let me know how these simple yet effective strategies work!<\/p>\r\n
These 5 holiday party hacks will help you:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n- \r\n\r\nHelp you feel good about what your child eats<\/li>\r\n
- Help you get some good nutrition into your family at\/before the party<\/li>\r\n
- Help you and your child savour vs. devour the holiday treats<\/li>\r\n
- Help your child stay put at the table<\/li>\r\n
- Help your child avoid getting “hangry”<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
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![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tanaphong-toochinda-FEhFnQdLYyM-unsplash-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n
1. Feed them nutrient-dense meals before the family holiday party<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nIt’s no secret that holiday parties aren’t always filled with the most nutritious meals (and that’s fine, it’s one day in the year!), but it’s always a good idea to make sure your kids have at least one healthy meal during the day.<\/p>\r\n
I aim to load them up with a bit of protein, fruits, and vegetables! You’ll feel better about their nutrition.<\/p>\r\n
As an added bonus, it satiates them which helps prevent snacking on all those chips and candy canes.<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
![\"Healthy](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/evelyn-semenyuk-IfG34eJKhsE-unsplash-1-scaled-e1671808673850.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n
2. Bring a healthy appetizer to the party<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nEven with so many options at your family’s holiday party, your kids may not want anything! I always offer to bring a healthy appetizer that my children love like a charcuterie board or a veggie platter, so they’ll be able to eat something no matter what else is served.<\/p>\r\n
Being at someone else’s house can bring its own kind of anxiety. Bringing familiar food helps ease the nerves around trying new dishes and flavours.<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
![\"Girl](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tyson-GkE1i7Q4Xgc-unsplash-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n
3. Play “Eat Like a Turtle”<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nHelp your kids slow down with this activity! You can use it at home and at any holiday party or family gathering. I recommend using it for the less nutritious foods your children love to eat like sweet treats. We tell them to take small bites and nibbles, close their eyes, and savour how the food feels in their mouth.<\/p>\r\n
Kids learn by watching, so we’ll do it with them too! Doing this exercise helps your kids feel more full and satisfied, so they will eat less sugar.<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
![\"The](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/ana-maltez-M8GmV16gch0-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n
4. Tell your kids to crunch colours<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nDid you know colourful foods contain more vitamins and antioxidants? Eating an assortment of different colour foods adds more variety to your child’s plate. Encourage them to eat the rainbow and crunch colours. We tell our kids they can pick whatever they want from the buffet as long as they are picking different colours.<\/p>\r\n
Even if they don’t eat everything, they are getting more exposure to different foods!<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
![\"Danielle](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/DSC03906.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\r\n5. Get your kids involved with food exploration<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nWe bring the Curious Cookie Mat<\/a> to the holiday parties to get our kids to try food they wouldn’t try otherwise. It turns food exploration into a game that uses their sensory system to explore foods. We’ll usually print the digital version of this placemat<\/a> to bring along for the other kids too! So the adults can enjoy their meal, while the kids explore theirs \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
1. Feed them nutrient-dense meals before the family holiday party<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nIt’s no secret that holiday parties aren’t always filled with the most nutritious meals (and that’s fine, it’s one day in the year!), but it’s always a good idea to make sure your kids have at least one healthy meal during the day.<\/p>\r\n
I aim to load them up with a bit of protein, fruits, and vegetables! You’ll feel better about their nutrition.<\/p>\r\n
As an added bonus, it satiates them which helps prevent snacking on all those chips and candy canes.<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
2. Bring a healthy appetizer to the party<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nEven with so many options at your family’s holiday party, your kids may not want anything! I always offer to bring a healthy appetizer that my children love like a charcuterie board or a veggie platter, so they’ll be able to eat something no matter what else is served.<\/p>\r\n
Being at someone else’s house can bring its own kind of anxiety. Bringing familiar food helps ease the nerves around trying new dishes and flavours.<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
3. Play “Eat Like a Turtle”<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nHelp your kids slow down with this activity! You can use it at home and at any holiday party or family gathering. I recommend using it for the less nutritious foods your children love to eat like sweet treats. We tell them to take small bites and nibbles, close their eyes, and savour how the food feels in their mouth.<\/p>\r\n
Kids learn by watching, so we’ll do it with them too! Doing this exercise helps your kids feel more full and satisfied, so they will eat less sugar.<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
4. Tell your kids to crunch colours<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nDid you know colourful foods contain more vitamins and antioxidants? Eating an assortment of different colour foods adds more variety to your child’s plate. Encourage them to eat the rainbow and crunch colours. We tell our kids they can pick whatever they want from the buffet as long as they are picking different colours.<\/p>\r\n
Even if they don’t eat everything, they are getting more exposure to different foods!<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
<\/a><\/p>\r\n5. Get your kids involved with food exploration<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nWe bring the Curious Cookie Mat<\/a> to the holiday parties to get our kids to try food they wouldn’t try otherwise. It turns food exploration into a game that uses their sensory system to explore foods. We’ll usually print the digital version of this placemat<\/a> to bring along for the other kids too! So the adults can enjoy their meal, while the kids explore theirs \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/p>\r\nEven with so many options at your family’s holiday party, your kids may not want anything! I always offer to bring a healthy appetizer that my children love like a charcuterie board or a veggie platter, so they’ll be able to eat something no matter what else is served.<\/p>\r\n
Being at someone else’s house can bring its own kind of anxiety. Bringing familiar food helps ease the nerves around trying new dishes and flavours.<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
3. Play “Eat Like a Turtle”<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nHelp your kids slow down with this activity! You can use it at home and at any holiday party or family gathering. I recommend using it for the less nutritious foods your children love to eat like sweet treats. We tell them to take small bites and nibbles, close their eyes, and savour how the food feels in their mouth.<\/p>\r\n
Kids learn by watching, so we’ll do it with them too! Doing this exercise helps your kids feel more full and satisfied, so they will eat less sugar.<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
4. Tell your kids to crunch colours<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nDid you know colourful foods contain more vitamins and antioxidants? Eating an assortment of different colour foods adds more variety to your child’s plate. Encourage them to eat the rainbow and crunch colours. We tell our kids they can pick whatever they want from the buffet as long as they are picking different colours.<\/p>\r\n
Even if they don’t eat everything, they are getting more exposure to different foods!<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
<\/a><\/p>\r\n5. Get your kids involved with food exploration<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nWe bring the Curious Cookie Mat<\/a> to the holiday parties to get our kids to try food they wouldn’t try otherwise. It turns food exploration into a game that uses their sensory system to explore foods. We’ll usually print the digital version of this placemat<\/a> to bring along for the other kids too! So the adults can enjoy their meal, while the kids explore theirs \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
<\/p>\r\nDid you know colourful foods contain more vitamins and antioxidants? Eating an assortment of different colour foods adds more variety to your child’s plate. Encourage them to eat the rainbow and crunch colours. We tell our kids they can pick whatever they want from the buffet as long as they are picking different colours.<\/p>\r\n
Even if they don’t eat everything, they are getting more exposure to different foods!<\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n
We bring the Curious Cookie Mat<\/a> to the holiday parties to get our kids to try food they wouldn’t try otherwise. It turns food exploration into a game that uses their sensory system to explore foods. We’ll usually print the digital version of this placemat<\/a> to bring along for the other kids too! So the adults can enjoy their meal, while the kids explore theirs \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/a><\/p>\r\n5. Get your kids involved with food exploration<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
![\"The](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/FINAL-Superpower-foods-placemat-bundle-DL-1-2-1024x791.jpg\")
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