My clients ask me this question often. You have decided to get healthier, maybe lose some weight and in doing so you want to eat better. How do you get your family or spouse onboard?
The first step is to take the time to plan out your meals for the week. This should be a family affair. Ask your family to search for recipes they would like to try. Then vote on the ones your family will eat for the week. These meals can be easy to make. They may even be some of your family’s favorites but just prepared in a different fashion. Say you family likes roasted chicken and sweet potato fries. You could cut your own sweet potatoes into fries and bake them in the oven and grill skinless chicken and mixed veggies on the grill. The key in grilling is to use herbs and seasoning your family likes. In many dishes especially chicken, herbs are where the dish gets its flavor.
Another option is to go out to a healthy restaurant and have everyone taste each other’s food. Then go home and try to recreate the dish in a healthier fashion. Most all dishes prepared from scratch at home are healthier than prepared purchased foods or foods eaten in restaurants because you can omit or reduce sugar, oil, excessive salt and preservatives. You can also chose to use all organic foods as a way to make meals healthier.
Another tip is to visit the produce aisle or a farmers market with your kids. Ask them to pick out interesting or unusual vegetables. Then base the coming weeks menu on your finds. Kids will be more apt to try something new if they scouted it out and saw it before it was clean and prepared.
Whenever possible involve your kids and even husband in the meal planning, purchasing and preparation. The more involved your family is in meal choices the more invested they will become. Also be realistic, not every choice will be a hit but if you put some effort into this, your family can adopt some new healthier food options.
Dr. Tina Paul, BCND, Traditional Naturopath, Vibrant Living Wellness Center, 144 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, (626) 470-7711 or visit www.vibrantlivingwc.com.