Creativity Counts
As a mom of three and a family physician, I’ve learned the importance of teaching healthy eating habits. My oldest, Madelyn, has celiac disease, meaning she is allergic to gluten. Emma Kate is my 7-year-old and unbelievably picky, while my middle child Casey enjoys a more varied diet. Between these three, finding a snack that they will agree on can be difficult. Thankfully, they all eat fruit – berries, oranges, pineapple, apple slices, and bananas are go-to snacks for us. For protein, a little peanut or almond butter on the side works well. Two of them enjoy gluten-free crackers with deli-sliced turkey or ham. Lightly salted popcorn is also an easy snack to bring with us in the car. With Emma Kate being so picky, I have found presenting her food creatively motivates her to eat more of the healthy things and stay out of the Doritos bag. We will make little fruit kabobs with toothpicks, or we’ll cut up her food into tiny pieces and serve it on a tea plate with a teacup full of water or milk.
Sue Gouge, Collegedale