Together Families' Guide to Healthy Eating

Want your family to eat healthier but you don’t know where to start? You’re not alone. Check out these tips to get you started on your path.

Change your shopping habits. This is most important for those last-minute meals when you only have access to the food in your fridge or pantry. Make sure there are always healthy choices available.

Don’t hold back on fresh fruit and vegetables. When in doubt, it’s much better to whip up a salad than bake a frozen pizza.

If someone in your family has a gluten or dairy allergy, encourage the rest of the family to eat using healthy substitutes as well. Spelt and coconut milk are great substitutes for flour and milk.

Spend a Sunday afternoon looking through a cookbook with nice pictures with your kids. Flag all the recipes they like, and make a couple throughout the week.

Research shows that children who help prepare meals are more likely to eat them. If you have any picky eaters, be sure to get them involved.

Visit a farmers market with your kids. They can be pricey so be sure to plan a bit in advance and don’t give into the gimmes.

Opt for a picnic instead of a meal at a restaurant. The best part is when kids get restless they can run the park around instead of sitting in a chair.

Don’t be hard on yourself. Nobody eats perfectly 100% of the time. Think of this process as an ongoing journey towards happier, healthier people.

Based on an article that originally appeared in the Spring 2014 issue of Together Magazine.