How many food groups are we having?

When the new Canada's Food Guide came out, I was thrilled. It is a great resource to have on my fridge at kids-eye level. They could see it and read it whenever they passed by. Now at every meal or snack, my 6 year old daughter will ask "How many food groups are we having?". Sometimes they will both gasp in amazement and say "Mom! We have all four food groups!!" My insides do flips when they say that! Sometimes they will even say "We are missing dairy! I'll get the milk!" Good job, kids!

I like to talk to my kids about "sometimes foods" versus "everyday foods". There is a negative connotation around the terms "good foods" and "bad foods" that is disagreeable. Realistically, I cannot shelter them from fast food and slurpies. BUT, I can educate them on making better choices, and if they choose wisely 80 -90 % of the time, then job well done. In order for them to make a choice, they need to know what is out there.

I started talking to my children early on about foods and their benefits. When they were two they knew that milk had calcium, vitamin D, protein and fat, and they knew that it was good for bones and teeth. Kids are never too young to learn about good eating habits. We never really stop learning about our health and what is good for us.

Teaching them from when they are young gives them a better chance of making healthier choices when they are teenagers and young adults.

Ideas on Teaching Kids about Nutrition

1. Get kids involved in meal preparation with age appropriate activities. This could be as simple as stiring something, or even getting ingredients from the fridge or pantry. If they are learning to read, this is also great to improve their reading.

2. Even if they make a mess, you can get them to crack eggs, or measure vanilla. Spills can be cleaned. There is nothing more special than seeing my son or daughters face when they crack that egg into the bowl. They feel so proud to be taking part in the meal prep. As a bonus, measuring ingredients is a great way to learn about counting and fractions!

3. Talk about the different nutrients in the food. You don't have to get technical. The Canada's Food Guide has some really great information on the different food groups. Keep it simple as kids have short attention spans!

4. Ask them what they know about the food they are eating. See if they can identify the different food groups that are on their plate.

5. Get them to help with cleaning up. This teaches them about the whole prcoess of cooking (and the more they clean, the less you have to do it).