Healthy food for kids should be simple, yet exciting!

“Healthy+ tasty+ interesting food for kids” is one of the most relevant topics, yet the most challenging. If you are just like me, an island surrounded by picky-eaters, I completely understand how you feel and I salute you for your patience.

Beverage choices are different for my daughters; Noora and Alia (9 & 4 years old). Noora’s favorite drink is Lemonade, while Alia enjoys apple juice. However, when it comes to food, we have a winner (drums playing the in background): Indian Cuisine. Both Noora and Alia agree that Indian cuisine is the best! Biryani is on the top of the list and comes next is Seekh Kabab. I think the girls enjoy Indian Cuisine, as it is rich in spices, ingredients and flavors.

Junk food is inevitable - exercise control. Introduce healthier options, healthier brands!

I believe that junk food cravings are inevitable to many families nowadays. The atmosphere, colors, speedy delivery of food and taste make kids crave it. However, I made a rule at home that we are allowed to have fast food once during the weekend. This way kids cravings are managed and under control.

I regularly initiate healthy items too. In their lunch boxes, I make sure to include cucumbers, carrots, apples and bananas. I repeat them with slight changes every now and then as I read once that a child needs to try an item 14 times before actually accepting it.

When it comes to food safety and hygiene, I make sure to follow the general rules set by Dubai Municipality. I learned to keep the rules of safety and hygiene when I took a course in preparing bento boxes for kids’ lunchboxes. The best part is, you get to wash your hands like a doctor ;)

The brands we choose is based on family consensus, I like to ensure that all items have vitamins and minerals on its nutrition facts. Some brands that we like are Al Marai, Lacnor, Capri-Sun, Kraft and Organic Super Market products such as zaatar manakish. It is Alia’s favorite.

Eating healthy is a societal effort – collaborate with school

I do my best to collaborate with the school on healthy food awareness with my children. I believe that eating healthy is a societal effort, especially with children. The messages on eating healthy has to come in from different channels and via different resources such as municipalities and concerned ministries. Healthy eating is a preventative tool for societies against diseases. It is a path to well-being.

Keep healthy food simple, but make it ‘exciting’ for kids

I imagine myself as one of the directors of the food and beverage industry. First, I would make healthy food available everywhere with affordable prices. Second, I would make healthy items interesting for kids, like sell fruit salads created as a special character. Thirdly, food trend I would like to keep will always be serving cheese with fruits. This is something I would never get bored of. Finally, I would keep healthy dishes simple. I would make each dish with 3 or maximum 5 ingredients. This is because I noticed that having so many ingredients make my kids stuffed and they are not able to complete their portions. Therefore, I love keeping it simple.

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About SuperMom Hafsa:

Hafsa Al Sada is a proud Emirati Mom of two girls - Noora & Alia. She is a Certified Strength-Based Coach and Brain-Based Coach