Make Shopping Fun!

While you may see grocery shopping as a chore, your children feed off of your attitude about it. Try to engage them in the process and make it a fun lesson!

• Let them choose a few meals or recipes and then select the ingredients at the store
• Read books about grocery shopping, recipes, cooking and nutrition; Pampers offers some suggestions here
• Use the store as an opportunity to teach colors, numbers, money, counting, math, manners and careers; make  up games and quizzes to engage them throughout the shopping trip
• Let them help steer the cart and give them small tasks and choices

Maintain Control

Here are some ways to maintain control at the grocery store:

• Make a list and be clear that you will buy only what is on the list; let kids participate in planning ahead
• Make sure kids are rested, have gone to the restroom and have eaten before; bring a snack, comfort items and toys/activities for back-up
• Discuss the rules ahead of time; make sure kids know tantrums, rudeness, touching items on the shelves, running away and climbing on carts will not be tolerated
• Explain safety risks; more than 20,000 kids are injured in shopping carts every year; make sure they ride in the seat or walk alongside; make sure he or she knows what to do if you get separated
• Address misbehavior as you would at home; use the restroom for time-outs

Pick or Trick More Fruits & Veggies

It can be a struggle to get your kids to eat fruits and veggies, let alone select them at the store. Produce for Better Health Foundation has a great website to help make fruits and vegetables more fun and interesting for kids. They also have some print-and-bring activities. Here are some other tips for getting more fruits and veggies in your kids’ diets.

• Let your kids pick a new fruit or veggie that they haven’t tried before each trip
• See how many fruits and vegetables they can name at the store
• Provide a good example; make sure you as parents are eating them too!
• “Trick” them by ramping up the fruit and veggie content in recipes:
  • Add shredded carrots and unsalted canned tomatoes to meat loaf
  • Replace some or all of potatoes in mashed potatoes with cauliflower
  • Add julienned zucchini or yellow squash, even cucumber, to tacos, quesadillas or guacamole
  • Add spinach to berry smoothies
  • Fresh squeeze juice rather than buy pre-packaged with sugar added

Kid-Friendly Recipes

Breakfast
Easiest Ever French Toast

Lunch
Turkey Mac & Cheese
Aztec Turkey Wedges
Mini Turkey Pizzas
Crescent Wrapped Turkey Franks

Dinner
Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Turkey Supreme Pizza Bake
Mini Turkey Meatballs
Turkey Lasagna Cupcakes
Turkey Chili Mac

Kid-Friendly and Healthy Foods

Parents, take credit! The pressure you’ve put on the food industry to improve nutrition content and labeling for all foods, especially those marketed for kids, has made a difference. But labels can still be confusing.

Try not to be distracted by the big headlines on the boxes. Focus on the combination of sodium, fiber, fat and sugar, particularly the calories coming from sugars and “bad” fats. A study by the Prevention Institute found that when it did this, many “kids foods” don’t fit the bill. The presence of artificial coloring and lack of fruits and vegetables is also troublesome.

Experts encourage parents to buy and feed their kids more whole, unprocessed foods. But if you must look for quick meal solutions, here are some that passed the test:

• Capri Sun 100 Percent Juice Fruit Punch
• Kid Cuisine Bug Safari Chicken Breast Nuggets
• Kid Cuisine Karate Chop Chicken Sandwich
• Kid Cuisine Campfire Hot Dog
• Kid Cuisine Pop Star Popcorn Chicken
• Kid Cuisine Magical Cheese Stuffed Crust Pizza
• Quaker Chewy Granola Bars (25 percent less sugar Chocolate Chip only)
• Kool Aid Fun Fizz Drink Drops (Giggling Grape only)
• Campbell's Princess-Shaped Spaghetti-Os

Other great kids foods:

• Eggs, cheese, cottage cheese
• Applesauce with no sugar added
• Baked potato
• Roundy’s Dinosaurs & Cheese
• Unsalted pretzels, plain bagels, unsalted rice cakes, unsalted bread sticks
• Pasta
• Dried fruit
• Whole grain muffins
• Fig-filled or oatmeal cookies

Don’t Forget the Medicine Cabinet

With kids in the house, you should have these items. Make sure they're not expired!

Kids Multivitamins: Many products, like Flintstones vitamins, are made to appeal to children. Make sure they understand why these are not candy and why they should never take more than the recommended dose daily with plenty of water.

Tylenol (acetaminophen): This safe, aspirin-free pain reliever should be in your medicine cabinet to address fever, aches and pains due to colds or the flu. Let your kids select the flavors and talk to them about how they can only take the recommended dosage for their weight and age.

Benadryl (diphenhydramine): Most commonly used to treat allergic reactions and allergies, it can also be used when a child has a localized skin irritation or itch, to lessen cough, runny nose, sneezing and itchy eyes/nose/throat due to common cold, or to prevent nausea, vomiting or dizziness. Again, talk to your kids about how it’s used and the dosages.

Neosporin Ointment (polymyxin B, neomycin and bacitracin): In addition to bandages, have this triple antibiotic around to prevent bacterial infection and the formation of scars. Take this opportunity to talk to your kids about infections and how to take care of wounds.

Children’s Pepto Antacid: Select chewable tablets to ease their upset stomachs due to indigestion or heartburn. They should never take the adult version. Talk to kids about good eating habits to prevent sour stomach.

Thermometer: Do you have the right thermometer for your kids’ ages? There are many options that do not contain mercury. This is an opportunity to explain temperature and types of measurement to your kids!