Written In Collaboration With Healthy Harold 🦒

At Le Puree, we grew up knowing that Healthy Harold knew all the best tips of healthy eating, and habit building through our formative years of childhood. Harold is still someone that we look to today, for guidance on those tips and tricks- how to build the healthiest foundations for our children. 

This is why we’ve chosen to partner with the iconic Health Harold team in building a lunchbox series, using fresh and unprocessed foods to deliver a delicious lunch for 5 days, served for multiple ages and stages. 

Here’s a few tips from our knowledgeable friend, who has been supporting young families for decades!

Hello there, grown-ups! It’s Healthy Harold here, and I’ve got some top tips on how to create healthy habits at home.

We all know that little people watch everything their adults do. Your choices around food and healthy habits make a big impression on them. Together, let’s make the healthy choice the easy choice and get everyone excited about nutritious foods.

At Life Ed and Le Puree, we’re passionate about empowering kids to make healthy choices for life, and it starts with positive experiences early on. In my special Early Years Learning Program, I visit early learning centres to talk about healthy habits, like nutrition, sleep, hygiene, and connections, all through fun, play-based learning in my Harold’s Healthy Day module. Here’s how you can continue these healthy habits at home:

1. Seize the window of opportunity

The early years are an important time for building preferences. Research shows that the earlier children are introduced to healthy foods, the more likely they are to carry those preferences into adulthood. By encouraging a wide variety of tastes and positive food experiences now, you’re helping them build lifelong healthy habits.

2. Make the healthy choice the easy choice

Consider what wholefoods are competing against in your fridge and cupboards. Keep nutritious foods, like fruits, veggies, and whole grains, front and centre in the fridge or pantry. When the healthy choice is also the easiest to access, it becomes a family favourite!

3. Create positive talk about health foods

The way we talk about food can greatly impact children’s perceptions. Associate wholefoods with positive discussions about health, energy, and how we feel. Discuss how these foods help us become better versions of ourselves and enhance our moods. You could say, “These berries will give us lots of energy for the park!” This helps little learners link nutritious foods to feeling good and having fun.

4. Make mealtime a happy gathering

Eating together as a family can help kids associate healthy foods with positive experiences, making meals about connection as well as nutrition.

5. Lead by example

Kids love to copy their favourite people. By seeing you enjoy an apple or crunchy veggies, they’re more likely to make those choices too. Modelling healthy eating makes it easier for kids to build good habits.

6. Use non-food rewards

Rather than rewarding good behaviour with sweets, try something fun and engaging like an extra story, game time with you, or an adventure outside. This way, kids see healthy eating as something positive and rewarding on its own.

7. Think nude foods

“Nude foods” are foods in their most natural form—fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean meats, nuts, and dairy. These foods are free from extra processing, and they’re often the healthiest choices for growing bodies. Try to keep these foods readily available for a simple, nutritious snack.

So, how do I put this all together?

We suggest these lunchbox staples- as a way to ease your burden of packing healthy and delicious foods- whilst keeping the kiddos coming back for more!

• Spinach and Chicken meatballs
• Broccoli Bites
• Falafel Bites

Want to further support your child's journey toward healthy habits? Healthy Harold is visiting early learning centres to engage young children in fun and educational activities focused on nutrition and well-being.

Learn more about the program here and recommend it to your early learning centre director today!