By Sushant Agarwal
Published on | Jun 23, 2025
Many children today rely heavily on processed foods like nuggets, cereals, and packaged snacks. It’s a common struggle for parents worldwide.
Ultra-processed foods are engineered to hit the brain’s reward system by triggering feel-good chemicals through added sugar, salt, and fat.
Kids may reject new foods due to a survival instinct that helped ancient humans avoid bitter, potentially toxic plants.
From YouTube ads to supermarket displays, kids are constantly exposed to tempting promotions of ultra-processed foods.
These foods lead to nutrient deficiencies, obesity, and long-term risks like diabetes and heart disease if consumed regularly.
Eating as a family helps kids mimic healthy food choices and makes mealtimes more meaningful and less distracted.
Kids often need 8–10 exposures to accept new foods. Keep offering them without using dessert as a reward.
Tweak popular dishes — like using lentils in bolognese or grating veggies into sauces — to gradually build healthier habits.
Use colors, shapes, and playful presentations. Involve kids in gardening, food shopping, or sharing cool food facts to build curiosity.
Let them help in the kitchen! Kids are more likely to try foods they help make — and that effort can reshape lifelong eating habits.