Five Tips for Healthy Eating

He did not have a sudden, whimsical desire to eat a carrot baton when it was masquerading as a piece of garden fence outside a magical forest of broccoli trees than had it been sat next to a lump of poorly mashed potato. Honestly, the things I've done with peas and cabbage would make Tony Hart smile down from heaven, but get them eaten it did not.

Hmm, I'm not exactly selling this particular method of getting goodness into kids am I? Do try it though, just because it didn't work for me doesn't mean it won't for you and let's face it, mothers of toddlers have nothing better to do than create choo choo trains out of peas and sweetcorn with little puffs of broccoli coming out of the top.

Number two: Disguise.

Soup it, shred it, mix it or stuff it. Sounds intricate but you don't have to be Gordon Ramsay to create a simple healthy meal that looks like something they want to eat, yes?!

Now, as parenting goes I am lazy as hell, but even I can stretch to making soup. Honestly, it's really easy. Just fill a saucepan full of stock and chuck in any old vegetable you can find; spuds, carrots, parsnips, onions, leeks etc. Simmer for a bit then blend it and serve it with a good supply of bread for dunking. Simple soup - done.

Thanks to Jamie Oliver I tried making my own meat-balls and discovered that it is very simple. (Although The Other Half is adamant that my J'Oliver style meat-balls are what caused his stomach upset last week.) Okay - sausage meat might not be the first thing that splats into the front of your mind when you think about healthy food, but grate a bit of carrot, broccoli or courgette to mix in and you've got a partly respectable meal that even the fussiest of toddlers wouldn't refuse. (Unless your toddler is like The Boy, who can sense the presence of a vegetable using only the power of his mind).

Number three: Lead by example.

This one isn't patronising at all... but actually it makes a good point. It's hardly fair to expect anyone to munch on a raw stem of broccoli while you sit there shovelling Mars Bars into your fat face now, is it? Don't practice the 'Do as I say, not as I do' principle - you are far more likely to succeed in influencing any kind of behaviour when you model it yourself. Make a point of snacking on juicy oranges or berries; the kinds of foods you can share and enjoy. I'm not suggesting that you are devious with your eating or hide the fact that you have a weakness for Minstrels (mmmmm...Miiinsstrells..), just be sure to be seen scoffing lots fruits and veggies.

Number four: Eat a Rainbow!

Yes. I know. This does sound like the kind of trite, American gimmicky rubbish that evokes a sudden feeling of nausea. That's exactly what I felt when I first read this lovely little catch phrase whilst researching for this blog, but, actually the principle is quite sound. The more varied the colour of food, the healthier and more interesting the plate will become. If you're serving something really bland in colour like pasta or noodles, then try and serve with a nice brightly coloured tomato sauce, or mix in some spinach.

Number five: Get involved!

It's hard for any child to turn their nose up at something they themselves have enjoyed making, and I can say this is the one thing that has really worked when it comes to getting some semblance of a decent meal into The Boy. I know it's easier said than done when it comes to toddlers but doing tiny things like helping to make a sandwich by layering cucumber and tomatoes on it, or helping to put veg into a saucepan.

Oh, and while I'm writing, never give them white bread. Never give it to them and you'll never get into the arguments about how they prefer it to brown. White bread is pure skankness, and if they never have it, it won't become an issue. There isn't a way of saying that that isn't preaching, but honestly, it's not nice stuff. It never did anything good for anyone, except fill a hungry tum and that can be done just as easily by the brown stuff.

And when all is said and done just bear in mind that a little of what you fancy does you good. We all want our little ones to have a healthy balanced diet and therein lies the crux of the matter: 'Balanced'. It is so difficult to preach about the virtues of healthy eating to our kids without demonising other kinds of foods. Don't make certain kinds of food 'evil' or 'powerful'. Food shouldn't have any kind of emotional attachment to it, no guilt or shame for eating crisps and bickies. These snacks are just fine in moderation at the right time in the right place.