Healthy kids are happy kids, but getting children to eat healthily can feel like pulling teeth. With that in mind, we’ve compiled eight of the best healthy foods you can include in your child’s diet, with some ideas for how to make them more palatable to picky eaters. At Rebounderz in Lansdale, we’re passionate about mixing fitness and fun for everyone. When you want to work up an appetite, come on in and start jumping in our incredibly safe trampoline park. We know it’ll be fun for the whole family! Without further ado, let’s get into some good food.

-Flaxseed

Packed with vital Omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed is a nutty plant food that is fantastic for developing brains. You can find it both whole and ground, though research has found that ground flaxseed is easier for the body to absorb. Flaxseed is incredibly versatile and can be added to many different dishes for a bit of added nutrition. Sprinkle some ground flaxseed onto some cereal or into a batter for sweet treats like waffles or pancakes for a great way to start the day. If you replace ¼ cup of flour with flaxseed in your kid’s favorite muffin, bread, or pancake recipe, it’s an easy way to add a healthy boost to baked goods.

-Tofu

You might laugh at the thought of your child eating tofu, but you’d be surprised what you can make with this healthy protein replacement. Use it as a creamy base for smoothies and ice cream to add nutrition to the sweet treats kids love. We’re willing to bet they won’t even notice it’s in there! Because tofu is a wonderful source of protein, B vitamins, calcium, and iron, it can be massively beneficial in helping your child grow and maintain healthy, strong bones.

-Sweet Potato

Even for kids that are notorious veggie haters, sweet potatoes can win over even the toughest critics. As one of the most nutritious and inexpensive vegetables out there, it’s easy to recommend adding these tubers to your meal plans. Sweet potatoes contain Vitamin A, which keeps eyes healthy and acts as an antioxidant in the body. Even babies are crazy for sweet potatoes thanks to their bright color and natural sweetness. Whether it’s a simple baked sweet potato with a little bit of cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top or a combination with regular potatoes for a delicious Two-Potato Mash, we’re sure everyone in your family will be on board with this delightful spud.

-Yogurt

When you hear the word bacteria, many of you likely cringe. Over many years, bacteria have been synonymous with getting sick, but there are good types of bacteria out there that can help you and your children be more healthy. Good bacteria, often referred to as probiotics, help to maintain stomach health. A fantastic source of probiotics is yogurt, though it’s important to note that not all yogurts are created equally. Avoid yogurts that are specifically marketed toward kids, as they are packed with added sugars and contain far less protein and probiotics than their grown-up counterparts. If your little one feels it might be too sour for their tastes, add in a little bit of natural honey and fresh fruit to get a dash of sweetness that might be more to their liking. When you’re on the hunt for yogurt, keep an eye out for the phrase “live and active cultures”, as this will be the indication that it has plenty of beneficial probiotics. As another bonus, most yogurts actually contain more calcium than a cup of milk. Who knew?

-Mango

When you want to switch up the typical fresh fruit routine, try some mango. This wonderful fruit can be used in so many ways, from an ingredient in a fresh salad to a healthy snack on its own. One cup of mango contains almost an entire day’s worth of Vitamin C, which is valuable to strengthening a child’s immune system, while also keeping their teeth and gums healthy. Toss it in a smoothie with some other fruit for a great drink on the go or make a delightful mango pudding for the perfect side dish. For those hot summer days, puree some peeled cubes of mango, pour it into popsicle molds or ice cube trays and freeze them for a few hours. Once they’ve hardened up, you’ve got a cool treat to beat the heat!

While it may feel like an insurmountable task to get kids to eat healthily, all it takes it a little bit of ingenuity and creative thinking to help every meal be more nutritious. When you want to teach your children the value of fitness and being healthy, bring them to Rebounderz in Lansdale. Whether they’re bouncing from object to object on the exciting Ninja Warrior course or they’re holding their own dunk contest on the SlamBall court, we know your kids will have a blast while getting some exercise at the same time. We hope to see you soon!