As a daily home cook and shopper, I strive to ensure my children eat healthily. Yet, in reality, my influence is limited—especially as they grow older.
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At home, I can guide choices to some extent, but encouraging healthy eating becomes tougher with age. Teens eat more and crave junk food and snacks.
School cafeterias are out of my control. Even if lunchboxes return full, I know they're grabbing treats like chicken satay, sausage rolls, frikandel rolls (my son tried them once and deemed them inedible), autodrop, lollipops, and more.
Weekend jobs? Forget Brussels sprouts or chicory. My eldest works at a local cafeteria, the youngest at a restaurant—they opt for croquettes, frikandel sandwiches, and fries over plain cheese sandwiches. Temptations abound, and teens struggle to resist.
Tip: Want your teen to eat healthy without complaints? Try this taco recipe!
Serving healthy meals often means facing grumbly teens. "Mom, what's for dinner?" they ask, poking their nose in. I joke, "Elephant heads." They press: "Seriously?" "Broccoli." "Ugh, I smelled it."
Healthy eating doesn't come easy with adolescents. "Dinner's ready—come whine?"
Here are two practical tips to encourage continued healthy habits.
To teach mindful eating, I suggested my teens cook once weekly. Truthfully, I also craved a break—sitting down for dinner like in my childhood, when my mom's meals outshone mine (her kale, beef, pancakes, and leeks are unbeatable).
Reactions varied: Eldest quipped, "Sunday? Grab me fries and I'll bake snacks." The youngest was more open to negotiating.
I model good habits: no nightly chips, no alcohol (not my thing), daily fruits and veggies. Yesterday, my youngest said, "Mom, you have bread with cheese and lettuce—I'll have that too." A small win! Though alcohol might not be my strongest example.
