8 tricks nutritionists use to ge

4. Add some flavor boosters

You’re probably not going to get your teenager to love vegetables if you serve them steamed. That’s why Cassetty recommends adding “flavor boosters” like toasted nuts, a sprinkle of cheese, herbs and seasonings and salad dressing to help kick things up a notch.

5. Focus on short-term benefits

“They’re more likely to care about immediate results,” says Ansel. “If you try to tell them that eating well will build strong bones, they won’t relate to that.” Instead, she suggests talking to your child about how food can help with energy levels. “Talk about the fact that, if they’re exhausted all the time, healthy eating may help them feel better and have more energy,” she says. If your child is an athlete, Angelone recommends making a point of talking to them about how what they eat can impact how well they do in sports. Having them understand the value of good nutrition for sports performance is crucial, she says.

6. Keep good stuff around

“Have delicious, fun and healthy foods stocked in the kitchen,” Sonya Angelone, R.D., a mom of a teenage son and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. That includes, hummus, guacamole, salsa, vegetables, whole grain crackers and dips, fruit salad or fruit kabobs, cereal and milk topped with berries, yogurt and sliced fruit, trail mix, soups, chili and whole grain cornbread.