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Nurture Life","https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/blog/category/tips-how-tos/","Tips/How tos Archives",{"__typename":6,"id":114,"name":115,"slug":116,"uri":117,"seo":118},"dGVybToyOQ==","Toddlers","toddlers","/blog/category/toddlers/",{"__typename":12,"title":119,"metaDesc":19,"opengraphUrl":120,"opengraphTitle":121,"opengraphDescription":19,"opengraphImage":17,"opengraphType":18,"opengraphPublishedTime":19,"opengraphModifiedTime":19,"opengraphSiteName":20,"metaRobotsNoindex":21,"metaRobotsNofollow":22,"twitterDescription":19,"twitterImage":17,"twitterTitle":19},"Toddlers Archives | Nurture Life","https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/blog/category/toddlers/","Toddlers Archives",{"id":123,"title":124,"slug":125,"link":126,"uri":127,"date":128,"modified":129,"content":130,"featuredImageForMobile":131,"featuredImage":138,"categories":145,"tags":153,"author":274,"seo":288,"__typename":176},"cG9zdDoxODIxNw==","Rewarding Your Kids for Eating Doesn’t Work. What Does?","rewarding-picky-eaters","https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/blog/rewarding-picky-eaters/","/blog/rewarding-picky-eaters/","2020-06-23T22:34:17","2023-11-08T16:14:51","\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Without even realizing it, we may now be passing down these same messages as we learn to parent our own kids.\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The problem with food-related reinforcement—as true today as it was back then—is that it doesn’t work! In fact, rewarding our kids for eating often achieves the very opposite of what we intend. It tends to make picky eaters \u003C/span>\u003Ci>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">more\u003C/span>\u003C/i>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> resistant to new foods and muddles the message of positivity, encouragement and confidence that we hope to establish as they grow up and grow into their own eating habits. \u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a registered dietitian, my clinical practice with early childhood nutrition has shown me time and time again that rewarding kids for eating (or “bribing” them, you might say) just doesn’t work. Here’s why.\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>\u003Cb>6 Reasons to Avoid Bribing Your Kids at Mealtime\u003C/b>\u003C/h2>\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cb>1. It Prevents Kids From Learning to Listen to Their Bodies.\u003C/b>\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The most important reason not to reward kids for eating is that it can prevent them from understanding their own hunger and fullness cues. Instead of learning to listen to their bodies to determine whether they’re hungry or full, kids will begin to look to the external reward. The bigger the reward (maybe it’s a new toy, an extra 30 minutes of fun before bed or a special dessert), the more motivated kids are to eat. \u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if our reward system for kids focuses on encouraging only “healthy” foods, the pattern is pervasive. Once kids stop honoring their own hunger/fullness cues, \u003C/span>\u003Ci>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">all \u003C/span>\u003C/i>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of their eating patterns may become confused—not just when veggies are on the table. The less kids can hear what their body is telling them, the greater their risk for developing \u003C/span>\u003Ca href=\"https://nurturelife.com/blog/talk-kids-weight-positive-way/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unhealthy eating patterns\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as they get older.\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cb>2. It’s a Slippery Slope.\u003C/b>\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To be an effective habit-forming tool, a reward must have clear terms: if your child does \u003C/span>\u003Ci>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this\u003C/span>\u003C/i>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, then \u003C/span>\u003Ci>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this\u003C/span>\u003C/i>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> results. Consistency is key—but it’s also very hard! We all want our kids to be happy, and once we’ve established the presence of mealtime rewards, it’s easy to start moving the goalposts little by little. \u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, maybe we start by saying that our kids will get 15 minutes of TV if they eat all the broccoli. As that begins to feel impossible, maybe we lower the bar to just four pieces of broccoli. Then finally maybe just one bite. In this case, our kids have learned that the rules are flexible and that they might get the reward anyway, even without eating the broccoli. Meals can then turn into a power struggle—and you don’t need me to tell you that iron-willed toddlers are \u003C/span>\u003Ci>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">very\u003C/span>\u003C/i>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> good at beating out tired parents!\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cb>3. It Can Muddle Relationships Between Feeder and Eater.\u003C/b>\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you introduce rewards into eating, you aren’t just changing your child’s relationship with food—you’re changing your relationship with your child. As you instate a reward system, your child may start to view eating as an easy way to please you. This, in turn, shifts the focus away from teaching your child to listen to their body and towards a focus on gaining approval. The more they seek approval, the less they may naturally ask themselves, “Am I full? Does my body need to keep eating?”\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cb>4. It Increases Food Anxiety.\u003C/b>\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It’s natural for us as parents to want our kids to fulfill their potential, which includes a healthy, active body. But if we focus so much on an elaborate reward system (like one fun activity for every three veggies, or one sticker for every two bites), we may build up too much fixation on our kids’ eating habits. \u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We may start rewarding kids whenever they eat anything at all, or we may turn ourselves into a short-order cook who makes whatever our kids want just to fill their stomach. It becomes exhausting and may establish a sense of anxiety around meals (for both kid and parent!).\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cb>5. It Builds Food Resentment.\u003C/b>\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Opposite to giving rewards, withholding privileges (i.e. \u003C/span>\u003Ci>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">negative\u003C/span>\u003C/i>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reinforcement) can also be troublesome for kids. Removing access to toys or limiting fun activities will further frustrate our kids, not only making them uncomfortable with the new or “yucky” food but also taking away their pastime, which will lead to more anger and disappointment. \u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased resentment around food is not a positive experience for the child, nor is it ever going to make mealtime pleasurable. And as upset kids dig their heels in, the power struggles will only get worse.\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-18826\" src=\"https://content.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PEB-A6-photo-1.jpg\" alt=\"picky eaters\" width=\"600\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PEB-A6-photo-1.jpg 600w, https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PEB-A6-photo-1-300x250.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" />\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cb>6. It Becomes a Habit. \u003C/b>\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learning to eat new foods can be a tricky time in infancy, for both the parent and the child. Some kids are quite accepting as infants but then begin to \u003C/span>\u003Ca href=\"https://nurturelife.com/blog/kids-picky-eaters/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">develop picky eating habits as a toddler\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which can be equally frustrating and confusing. In both cases, rewarding children for eating often starts at a very early age. Once it becomes a habit, it’s very difficult to break—even as your child gets older and even when we can see that the positive or negative reinforcement isn’t really working.\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>\u003Cb>What to Do Instead: Keep Meals Relaxed and Reward-Free\u003C/b>\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you’ve been rewarding your kids for eating, you aren’t alone! Many, many parents use this strategy, and you shouldn’t feel bad if the habit has made its way into your family’s mealtime routine. Taking small steps to remove the reinforcement from meals will go a long way to \u003C/span>\u003Ca href=\"https://nurturelife.com/blog/kids-food-creating-positive-relationship/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">helping your kids develop a more positive relationship with food\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It’s never too late to build new habits for your family (and you’ll be modeling a great example for your kids in the process!). \u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are a few simple ways to approach meals without resorting to positive or negative reinforcement.\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cb>1. Talk About the Food.\u003C/b>\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Positive reinforcement doesn’t have to be a shiny new toy; it can be as simple as verbal praise for “doing a good job” with food. It’s natural to want to highlight our kids’ positive behaviors, but too much praise may lead your child to listen more for your approval than their own hunger/fullness cues.\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rather than making a big commotion about food, it’s best to have a relaxed atmosphere. Instead of praising your child directly, try starting a laid-back conversation about the food. If your child tries a bite of broccoli, try a piece yourself and describe what it tastes like to you or what you think would be good alongside the broccoli the next time your child tastes it. \u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead of any kind of reinforcement (which can often feel like pressure), you’ll be encouraging a sense of wonder and discovery around food. If your child hates the food, ask why! Try to make it fun and give your little one space to say what’s icky and, more importantly, why.\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cb>2. It’s Okay to Make Meals Fun!\u003C/b>\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even without direct rewards or verbal praise, you can still have fun while eating! Some of our \u003C/span>\u003Ca href=\"https://nurturelife.com/blog/tips-kids-food-allergies/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">favorite picky eater tools\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> involve cute plates, fun character food picks and adorable mealtime buddies that help kids explore the many colors, textures, tastes, smells and other sensations of food.\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key is to spur some interest without resorting to gadgets that will overly distract your child from the experience of eating. Something simple like a board-game-themed dinner tray can take the focus off how many bites your child is eating (for you as the parent) or how “ewwww!” the broccoli smells (for your kid). If you order \u003C/span>\u003Ca href=\"https://nurturelife.com/menus/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nurture Life’s healthy kids meals\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you can \u003C/span>\u003Ca href=\"https://nurturelife.com/blog/reuse-packaging-crafts/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">easily reuse our meal packages\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to add some whimsy and creativity to meals, too!\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you do use any kind of themed plates, table toys or other game elements at meals, try to think of them first and foremost as a communication tool. Use them to ask questions, build an imaginative story, talk about different foods and have fun together.\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-18827\" src=\"https://content.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PEB-A6-Photo-2.jpg\" alt=\"picky eaters\" width=\"599\" height=\"599\" srcset=\"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PEB-A6-Photo-2.jpg 1000w, https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PEB-A6-Photo-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PEB-A6-Photo-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PEB-A6-Photo-2-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" />\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cb>3. Experiment With Picky Eater Strategies.\u003C/b>\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many parents resort to mealtime bribes to get their kids past a picky eating phase. If your little one is suddenly refusing to eat anything green, leafy or non-chicken-nugget, then you may want to try out some picky eater strategies. There are\u003C/span>\u003Ci>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tons\u003C/span>\u003C/i>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of ways to introduce new foods (or to re-introduce old foods to newly picky eaters) that don’t involve any kind of reward system for kids.\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are a few helpful resources to get started:\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://nurturelife.com/blog/overcome-picky-eating-3-techniques/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trying one new food at a time, every other day\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://nurturelife.com/blog/kitchen-organization-ideas-making-kid-friendly/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Making your kitchen more kid-friendly\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://nurturelife.com/blog/overcome-picky-eating-involving-child/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Involving your child at mealtime\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://nurturelife.com/blog/15-kid-friendly-vegetables-picky-eaters/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Serving picky eater-approved veggies\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Different strategies work for different kids, so it may take some time to find what works best for you. And research shows that it can take 6–15 times before a child accepts a new food, so patience and persistence are key. Even when it doesn’t feel like it’s working, remind yourself that you’re on the right track!\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Starting at a young age, it’s important for children to learn to listen to their bodies—to eat when they are hungry, to stop when they are full and to view food as energy that fuels them throughout the day. By moving away from food-related reinforcement and toward a more open, curious and pressure-free approach to meals, you’ll be teaching your child how to nourish their body now and for a lifetime.\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have any questions about building healthy, independent eating habits for your kids, please reach out to me and Nurture Life’s other child nutrition experts at \u003C/span>\u003Ca href=\"mailto:support@nurturelife.com\">\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nutrition@nurturelife.com\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">!\u003C/span>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://nurturelife.com/?utm_source=blog_internal&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=conversion&utm_content=rewarding-kids-eating-doesnt-work-20200623\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-18828 size-large\" src=\"https://content.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PEB-A6-CTA1--1024x427.jpg\" alt=\"chicken meatballs with pasta & veggies for picky eaters \" width=\"1024\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PEB-A6-CTA1--1024x427.jpg 1024w, https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PEB-A6-CTA1--300x125.jpg 300w, https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PEB-A6-CTA1--768x320.jpg 768w, https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PEB-A6-CTA1-.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" />\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n",{"mobileImage":132,"__typename":137},{"node":133,"__typename":136},{"sourceUrl":134,"__typename":135},"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PEB-A6-header-mobile.jpg","MediaItem","AcfMediaItemConnectionEdge","FeaturedImageForMobile",{"node":139,"__typename":144},{"id":140,"link":141,"sourceUrl":142,"altText":143,"__typename":135},"cG9zdDoxODgyNA==","https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/blog/rewarding-picky-eaters/peb-a6-header/","https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PEB-A6-header-880x450.jpg","picky eaters","NodeWithFeaturedImageToMediaItemConnectionEdge",{"nodes":146,"__typename":152},[147,148,149,150,151],{"name":52,"slug":53,"__typename":6},{"name":61,"slug":62,"__typename":6},{"name":70,"slug":71,"__typename":6},{"name":106,"slug":107,"__typename":6},{"name":115,"slug":116,"__typename":6},"PostToCategoryConnection",{"edges":154,"__typename":273},[155,209,256],{"node":156,"__typename":208},{"id":157,"name":158,"posts":159,"__typename":207},"dGVybToyMDE5","picky eater",{"edges":160,"__typename":206},[161,178,193],{"node":162,"__typename":177},{"id":163,"slug":164,"categories":165,"title":171,"excerpt":172,"featuredImage":173,"__typename":176},"cG9zdDoxNTk2Mw==","resolutions-parents-picky-eaters",{"nodes":166,"__typename":152},[167,168,169,170],{"name":52,"slug":53,"id":51,"__typename":6},{"name":70,"slug":71,"id":69,"__typename":6},{"name":97,"slug":98,"id":96,"__typename":6},{"name":115,"slug":116,"id":114,"__typename":6},"5 New Year’s Resolutions for Parents of Picky Eaters","\u003Cp>Raising a picky eater can feel like an uphill battle, and meals always come with trade-offs. How can you get your little one to eat something NOW, without setting them up for a lifetime of chicken nuggets and pizza (and without dinner turning into an hour-long drama)? There’s no magic bullet or “super-parent secret” that… \u003Ca href=\"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/blog/resolutions-parents-picky-eaters/\">Read More\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n",{"node":174,"__typename":144},{"sourceUrl":175,"__typename":135},"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/desktop-header.jpg","Post","TagToPostConnectionEdge",{"node":179,"__typename":177},{"id":180,"slug":181,"categories":182,"title":188,"excerpt":189,"featuredImage":190,"__typename":176},"cG9zdDoxNTc3MA==","fall-vegetables-kid-friendly",{"nodes":183,"__typename":152},[184,185,186,187],{"name":52,"slug":53,"id":51,"__typename":6},{"name":61,"slug":62,"id":60,"__typename":6},{"name":97,"slug":98,"id":96,"__typename":6},{"name":115,"slug":116,"id":114,"__typename":6},"The Best Fall Vegetables (and How to Make Them Kid-Friendly)","\u003Cp>At Nurture Life, we’re all about sharing nutritious, well-balanced and creative meals with our kids. And there’s no better way to nurture a healthy appreciation for different flavors and textures than to teach your kids to eat seasonally! Check out eight of our favorite fall vegetables below, along with wholesome recipes and easy ideas for… \u003Ca href=\"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/blog/fall-vegetables-kid-friendly/\">Read More\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n",{"node":191,"__typename":144},{"sourceUrl":192,"__typename":135},"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/header-3desktop.jpg",{"node":194,"__typename":177},{"id":123,"slug":125,"categories":195,"title":124,"excerpt":202,"featuredImage":203,"__typename":176},{"nodes":196,"__typename":152},[197,198,199,200,201],{"name":52,"slug":53,"id":51,"__typename":6},{"name":61,"slug":62,"id":60,"__typename":6},{"name":70,"slug":71,"id":69,"__typename":6},{"name":106,"slug":107,"id":105,"__typename":6},{"name":115,"slug":116,"id":114,"__typename":6},"\u003Cp>Without even realizing it, we may now be passing down these same messages as we learn to parent our own kids. The problem with food-related reinforcement—as true today as it was back then—is that it doesn’t work! In fact, rewarding our kids for eating often achieves the very opposite of what we intend. It tends… \u003Ca href=\"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/blog/rewarding-picky-eaters/\">Read More\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n",{"node":204,"__typename":144},{"sourceUrl":205,"__typename":135},"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PEB-A6-header.jpg","TagToPostConnection","Tag","PostToTagConnectionEdge",{"node":210,"__typename":208},{"id":211,"name":143,"posts":212,"__typename":207},"dGVybTo1MDA=",{"edges":213,"__typename":206},[214,228,242],{"node":215,"__typename":177},{"id":216,"slug":217,"categories":218,"title":223,"excerpt":224,"featuredImage":225,"__typename":176},"cG9zdDoxODY5OA==","new-healthy-kids-meals",{"nodes":219,"__typename":152},[220,221,222],{"name":43,"slug":44,"id":42,"__typename":6},{"name":52,"slug":53,"id":51,"__typename":6},{"name":115,"slug":116,"id":114,"__typename":6},"Cozy Up to Our New Winter Menu","\u003Cp>As the holiday season approaches, we’re excited to introduce three new healthy kids meals to the Nurture Life menu. With these freshly made, oh-so-cozy winter recipes, we’re showing that the classic flavors of fall and winter can be nutritious and that your family’s favorite cold weather comfort dishes don’t have to require hours of TLC… \u003Ca href=\"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/blog/new-healthy-kids-meals/\">Read More\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n",{"node":226,"__typename":144},{"sourceUrl":227,"__typename":135},"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Holiday-meals-blog-header-V2.jpg",{"node":229,"__typename":177},{"id":230,"slug":231,"categories":232,"title":237,"excerpt":238,"featuredImage":239,"__typename":176},"cG9zdDo3MzEy","nurture-life-meals-for-picky-eaters",{"nodes":233,"__typename":152},[234,235,236],{"name":52,"slug":53,"id":51,"__typename":6},{"name":70,"slug":71,"id":69,"__typename":6},{"name":115,"slug":116,"id":114,"__typename":6},"Nurture Life Meals for Picky Eaters","\u003Cp>Proper nutrition is necessary for kids’ growth, and the healthy decision-making skills and eating habits they develop at a young age can set them up for success down the road. By teaching kids to eat a healthy, wholesome diet, you can encourage a positive relationship with food that lasts a lifetime.  But this is easier… \u003Ca href=\"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/blog/nurture-life-meals-for-picky-eaters/\">Read More\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n",{"node":240,"__typename":144},{"sourceUrl":241,"__typename":135},"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Nurture-life-meals-for-picky-eaters-desktop-header.jpg",{"node":243,"__typename":177},{"id":244,"slug":245,"categories":246,"title":251,"excerpt":252,"featuredImage":253,"__typename":176},"cG9zdDoxODYwMg==","introduce-healthy-kids-meals",{"nodes":247,"__typename":152},[248,249,250],{"name":43,"slug":44,"id":42,"__typename":6},{"name":52,"slug":53,"id":51,"__typename":6},{"name":106,"slug":107,"id":105,"__typename":6},"How to Introduce Your Kids to New Foods","\u003Cp>When you’ve got picky eaters in the house, any and every meal can feel like a face-off. Nurture Life’s Kid Meals have been thoughtfully crafted to delight even the most stubborn head-shaker at the table—but as with any new food, a few intentional strategies can definitely ease the transition. Use the simple guide below to… \u003Ca href=\"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/blog/introduce-healthy-kids-meals/\">Read More\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n",{"node":254,"__typename":144},{"sourceUrl":255,"__typename":135},"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Introducing-kids-to-Nurture-Life-header.jpg",{"node":257,"__typename":208},{"id":258,"name":259,"posts":260,"__typename":207},"dGVybTozMTI4","reward system for kids",{"edges":261,"__typename":206},[262],{"node":263,"__typename":177},{"id":123,"slug":125,"categories":264,"title":124,"excerpt":202,"featuredImage":271,"__typename":176},{"nodes":265,"__typename":152},[266,267,268,269,270],{"name":52,"slug":53,"id":51,"__typename":6},{"name":61,"slug":62,"id":60,"__typename":6},{"name":70,"slug":71,"id":69,"__typename":6},{"name":106,"slug":107,"id":105,"__typename":6},{"name":115,"slug":116,"id":114,"__typename":6},{"node":272,"__typename":144},{"sourceUrl":205,"__typename":135},"PostToTagConnection",{"node":275,"__typename":287},{"authorMeta":276,"name":281,"description":282,"avatar":283,"__typename":286},{"avatar":277,"__typename":280},{"node":278,"__typename":136},{"sourceUrl":279,"altText":19,"__typename":135},"https://content.dev.nurturelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/img43@2x.jpg","AuthorMeta","Lara Field","Lara has been working with Nurture Life since its inception, collaborating with the culinary team on the creation of all menus and recipes to ensure they are nutritionally appropriate and correctly proportioned for every age and stage of a child’s development and providing pediatric nutrition expertise to Nurture Life customers. Lara is the owner/founder of FEED—Forming Early Eating Decisions, a nutrition consulting practice specializing in pediatric nutrition and digestive diseases. Lara has over a decade of experience in clinical practice at two of the top ranked pediatric hospitals in the country, Lurie Children’s Hospital and University of Chicago Medical Center. Lara received her B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and M.S. and dietetic internship from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Lara truly enjoys the process of eating (and feeding!), from procuring the ingredients at various grocery stores and farmers markets, to organizing her pantry/refrigerator at home to make it easy to select healthy options, to preparing balanced meals with her children. Whether it be a decadent treat to a hearty, home-cooked meal, there is no greater satisfaction for Lara than enjoying food with her family.",{"url":284,"__typename":285},"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f9529e44f2106b72c3da8bb75f11fa0d7f564078b974e916a25b5c58e9fa101e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","Avatar","User","NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge",{"title":289,"metaDesc":290,"opengraphUrl":126,"opengraphTitle":291,"opengraphDescription":290,"opengraphImage":292,"opengraphType":18,"opengraphPublishedTime":293,"opengraphModifiedTime":294,"opengraphSiteName":20,"metaRobotsNoindex":21,"metaRobotsNofollow":22,"twitterDescription":19,"twitterImage":17,"twitterTitle":19,"__typename":295},"Why to Avoid Rewarding Kids for Eating | Nurture Life","Nurture Life’s registered dietitian weighs in on why “bribing” kids at meals isn’t a great idea—and what works better for getting picky eaters to eat.","Rewarding Your Kids for Eating Doesn't Work. What Does?",{"sourceUrl":205,"__typename":135},"2020-06-23T22:34:17+00:00","2023-11-08T16:14:51+00:00","PostTypeSEO",1751870889127]