Inserting healthy foods into children’s menus is not an easy task, is it? It takes a lot of patience and imagination to convince little ones to eat vegetables, fruits, and legumes – essential items for the body’s development. Below, check out tips for ensuring that children have a healthy diet:
• Be creative in presenting food! Cutting vegetables, legumes, and fruits into fun shapes sparks children’s interest in food.
• Do not use dessert as a reward for the child to eat the foods intended for them at mealtime. By doing this, they will associate eating legumes and vegetables with punishment, while sweets become a prize.
• Set an example! Children generally look up to their parents and older siblings. Given this, it is 
important that everyone in the family eats healthily, so the child will follow the model.
• Include fruits, legumes, and vegetables in dishes that the child likes, such as pizzas, sandwiches, soups, and jellies.
• When going out with your child, try to bring along practical fruits for a quick and healthy snack. This way, when the child feels hungry, they will have the fruit within reach.
Source: www.saude.mg.gov.br, by Paula Gargiulo