Being a fit Auntie means more than just exercising, it means eating right, too. In our society where obesity has become a crisis, and the lifespan of our children for the first time in history is lower than their elders, the most difficult question we all face is, how can we get kids to eat healthy and enjoy it?

There are countless food products and marketing campaigns that work against us adults when trying to get good food to the kids in our lives, but a little creativity and time spent together in the kitchen teaching them about good food works miracles. It is our responsibility as Aunties to take the time out of our hectic schedules to teach our nieces and nephews about proper eating habits and how to prepare good food for themselves as adults. Plan an afternoon of cooking and a sit-down meal together with your nieces and nephews if you can. This activity will teach them good eating habits, as well as afford you both time to bond, talk and be together.

Remember, when planning a hands-on cooking class with your niece or nephew, creativity is crucial, as it will lead to diversity in their food selection, prevent boredom and increase their overall enthusiasm about healthy foods. Here is one of my favorite kid-friendly recipes. It will be sure to get them to eat fresh, raw cabbage and is surprisingly tasty and extraordinarily healthy! Be sure to take a long walk after your meal, it will help aid with digestion and get that metabolism churning.

Yummy Fruity Coleslaw

Ingredients:
1/2 bag traditional cole slaw salad mix
1 low fat vanilla yogurt
½ an apple, cored and chopped into small bite-size pieces
1/2 cup raw nut/raisin mix - unsalted
2 tbsp. ground cinnamon

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and YUMMY - you are eating cabbage!

Becky Wenner, owner of Becky's Fitness Company, is a proud Aunt of five.

Published: November 10, 2010