5 Mom-Approved Ways To Get Your Kids To Eat Better

Does anyone else remember thinking that mealtimes would get easier this past year? With remote learning and the newfound flexibility of working from home, many of us expected the COVID-19 pandemic to mean less rushing to get kids fed as the bus honks its horn, and more sitting down for wholesome meals as a family. But parents with elementary school-aged children learned quickly that at-home mealtimes were still just as challenging. And if your kids are anything like mine, a year spent inside only intensified their ever-evolving set of food-related preferences.

In the spirit of bridging the gap between delicious and nutrient-packed options, Romper teamed up with Carnation Breakfast Essentials®, a leading brand in nutritional drinks, to find out how other moms are meeting their family’s daily nutritional needs. Carnation Breakfast Essentials® has been providing families with convenient, delicious, and nutrient-packed breakfast drink options for over 50 years, and their newest Carnation Breakfast Essentials® Flavored Nutritional Drinks are — get this — inspired by everyone’s favorite classic cereals, like Kellogg’s® Froot Loops®, Kellogg’s® Frosted Flakes®, and Kellogg’s® Krave™.

No matter what type of palette you’re working with, read on for some smart hacks that may just be the ticket to a smoother mealtime. And for busy mornings, keep a backup supply of Carnation Breakfast Essentials® Nutritional Drinks on hand so you can make sure your family starts the day off right, no matter what.

1. The More Options The Better

“When I plan meals, I give my girls two choices of whatever I have for meat or protein and veggies or fruits. Somehow letting them pick and be more involved in the process works! If you have them, the more choices, the better. I swear by it.” —Stephanie, 31, mom of two

2. Make Breakfast Delicious & Drinkable

“I feel like I’ve scored a win every time my kids get the protein, vitamins, and minerals they need at breakfast, and the easiest way to make that happen is with Carnation Breakfast Essentials® Flavored Nutritional Drinks. They taste like the yummy flavor at the bottom of your cereal bowl, which means they’re the opposite of a hard sell in our house. My 8- and 6-year-old sons go nuts for the Kelloggs’® Froot Loops® and Frosted Flakes® flavors, and I’m very into how much vitamins C and D they are getting, which are key nutrients for immune support. Plus they’re just a super convenient choice for busy mornings when there’s no time for a sit-down meal.” —Katherine, 37, mom of two

3. Just Add Dip

“Dips! They’re a total game-changer in my house! We have the best luck getting our kids to eat more good stuff when we add a side of ranch and honey mustard, sometimes ketchup. Even guacamole (they love the cool green color). I’m working on hummus next! ” —Kyeisha, 33, mom of four

4. Prep Fruits And Veggies For Easy Snacking

“Stocking the fridge with healthy snacks, like apples, grapes, and sliced veggies, is only useful if your kids actually eat them. I’ve found that pre-washing, cutting, and portioning fresh foods into cute baggies or plastic containers makes my kids way more likely to grab them as mid-morning or after school snacks, plus helps me avoid that dreaded ‘we have nothing to eat’ complaint that I hear all too often.” —Sarah, 40, mom of two

5. Gamify The Good Stuff

“In our house, we play a food challenge game my mom made up when we were little. Us kids had to try a new food every week to see what we thought and we would compete about who was bravest about what we would try. That’s actually how I came to like eggplant and red peppers! I had never tried them, they looked gross, but they actually tasted amazing. It’s worked on my kids, and they actually think it’s fun!” —Rebecca, 39, mom of three

Click here to learn more about Carnation Breakfast Essentials® Flavored Nutritional Drinks and start making mealtimes easier, once and for all.

This post is sponsored by Carnation Breakfast Essentials®.