Eating healthy food is obviously better for the body, but some families are so set in routines that it can be difficult to adjust what makes up everyone’s diet. Introducing your family to healthy food doesn’t mean changing every single menu. Starting your family on the path to a healthy diet can be incredibly easy.

First of all, switching a few standard products used by the family is a simple step towards healthy eating. One incredibly easy way to do this is to switch products like pasta and bread to whole grain options. In many cases these whole grain choices have little to no taste difference than what your family might be used to, and with children sometimes these switches aren’t even noticed at all.

A second method of introducing your family to healthy food is to incorporate something new for them to try every day. This can range from a new fresh fruit at breakfast, multigrain chips with lunch, low fat dressing options on a dinner salad, and frozen yogurt instead of sugary ice cream for dessert. Offering a variety of new choices at different times in the day guarantees that kids - and adults too - won’t associate trying something they might not like with a certain meal and convince themselves beforehand that it won’t taste good to them.

Another effective way to introduce your family to healthy food is to plant a garden. Fresh ingredients are always better than the overly processed foods people regularly ingest, and growing one’s own fruits, vegetables, and herbs can be a fun activity for the entire family. Teaching children how to nurture a beloved strawberry from seed to summer dessert treat will not only help them understand how food is grown but will cultivate an appreciation for the food-making process. Growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs for family meals is also a big budget saver, and certainly a way to enjoy quality food year round.