Involving your kids Part 3: At the grocery store

Another great place to involve your kids is at the grocery store. Have your kids help plan, shop and then cook with you. Involving your kids in these processes empowers them and instills in them an understanding of what goes into the foods that they eat. When kids become part of this process they are more interested in trying the food or meal that results (1).
 
Here are just a few ideas to get your kids involved:
 
Get your kids to count as you put produce into the bag. If they can read, get them to tell you the items on your list.  Have them weigh fruits and vegetables in the produce isle. Talk to them about where their food comes from and how it grows. It’s always interesting to ask them how they think a food grows before giving them the answer!
 
Have them choose a new food to try, or which vegetables to have with dinner.
Talk to them about marketing and why they see Dora, Spiderman and Frozen all over different products and foods that aren’t necessarily a great choice. Start teaching them at a young age about marketing and it will pay off!
 
Kids loving learning first hand, and one thing I love doing is taking kids on grocery store tours. So, next time you are grocery shopping with your kids, make it a more enjoyable experience for everyone. It doesn’t have to take any longer, but it sure helps the “chore” of shopping become more of an adventure.
 
References:
http://www.letsmove.gov/plan-healthy-meal
 
Looking for more ways to involve your kids at the grocery store? Contact Jill, Nurture The Future’s Registered Dietitian at [email protected]

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