{"id":37409,"date":"2026-11-10T15:02:36","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T02:02:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/?p=37409"},"modified":"2026-11-10T15:02:39","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T02:02:39","slug":"how-meal-kits-can-support-healthier-eating-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/2026\/11\/10\/how-meal-kits-can-support-healthier-eating-for-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"How meal kits can support healthier eating for kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Between school, work, after-school activities and everything else that comes with family life, getting a nutritious dinner on the table every night can feel like another thing on an already long to-do list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And when you&#8217;re also trying to find meals that everyone will enjoy, it can be tempting to stick to the same meals week to week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The good news? Healthy family eating doesn&#8217;t have to be complicated. A little variety, getting the kids involved and making time to enjoy meals together can all help build positive food habits. Meal kits can make them all a little easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are a few ways meal kits can support healthier eating for your wh\u0101nau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Family-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-37410\" title=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Family-1024x512.jpg 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Family-300x150.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Family-768x384.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Family-1536x768.jpg 1536w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Family-2048x1024.jpg 2048w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Family-1080x540.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Make it easier to enjoy a variety of foods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Offering children a variety of foods, including different vegetables, is an important part of helping them develop familiarity with a range of flavours and textures. But we know this isn&#8217;t always easy, especially when you&#8217;re dealing with a fussy eater!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Research suggests that repeated exposure to different foods can help children become more accepting of them over time. That doesn&#8217;t mean they&#8217;ll love broccoli the first time it appears on their plate. It can take many positive experiences before a child is willing to try or enjoy a new food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meal kits can help introduce a little more variety into your weekly routine, with different recipes, ingredients and cuisines to explore. Even if your child doesn&#8217;t eat everything straight away, seeing different foods prepared and served at home can be a helpful first step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Our tip:<\/strong> Keep offering new foods alongside familiar favourites, without putting pressure on your child to eat them. Looking, touching, smelling or having a little taste can all be part of getting familiar with something new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Get the kids involved in the kitchen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cooking together is a great opportunity for children to learn about food, build practical skills and become more familiar with the ingredients that make up their meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Research suggests that involving children in hands-on food preparation can support positive attitudes towards healthy foods, cooking confidence and food-related behaviours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And they don&#8217;t need to be old enough to cook the whole meal! There are plenty of little jobs for kids of different ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Try getting them involved by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Choosing a recipe for the week.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Washing vegetables or salad leaves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mixing ingredients or stirring a sauce.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tearing herbs or picking leaves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Setting the table or helping serve dinner.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meal kits can make this easier by bringing the ingredients and recipe instructions together in one place. Kids can help follow the steps, see what&#8217;s going into their dinner and feel part of making the meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Make family mealtimes easier to manage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 36%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Family meals are about more than just what&#8217;s on the plate. Sitting down together when you can creates opportunities to connect, chat about the day and role-model positive eating habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Research has found associations between shared family meals and better dietary patterns in children, including greater fruit and vegetable intake. While family meals won&#8217;t always be possible every night, making time for them when you can is a worthwhile habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course, busy family schedules don&#8217;t always make this easy. Having a meal planned, with the ingredients ready to go, can take some of the pressure out of deciding what to cook and help make home-cooked dinners more achievable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And remember, family mealtimes don&#8217;t have to look perfect. It might be dinner around the table, breakfast together before school or a relaxed weekend lunch.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/twins-1-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-37411 size-full\" title=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/twins-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/twins-1-300x300.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/twins-1-150x150.jpg 150w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/twins-1-768x768.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/twins-1-500x500.jpg 500w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/twins-1-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/twins-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Take some of the stress out of planning and cooking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the biggest challenges of family cooking can be everything that happens before you even start preparing dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Deciding what to make, writing the shopping list, buying ingredients and trying to use everything before it goes to waste all take time and energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meal kits help simplify the process by bringing recipes and portioned ingredients together, so there&#8217;s less planning and shopping to do. You can also choose from a range of recipes each week, making it easier to find meals that suit your household.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More time back in your day, less decision-making and a little more variety on the dinner table. Sounds pretty good!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Finding the right meals for your family<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every family is different, and what works for one wh\u0101nau might not work for another. That&#8217;s why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\">My Food Bag<\/a> has a range of meal kits to suit different needs, preferences and budgets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-brand-boxes-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36813\" title=\"\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-brand-boxes-1024x683.jpg 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-brand-boxes-300x200.jpg 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-brand-boxes-768x512.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-brand-boxes-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-brand-boxes-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-brand-boxes-1080x720.jpg 1080w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-brand-boxes-1280x854.jpg 1280w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-brand-boxes-980x653.jpg 980w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-brand-boxes-480x320.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Bargain Box<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Family-favourite meals that are easy on the budget. With 25+ recipes to choose from each week, including crowd-pleasing, quick and easy meals, seasonal specials and healthier choices, there&#8217;s plenty of variety to help keep dinnertime interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>My Food Bag<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A wide range of delicious meals, with 30+ recipes to choose from each week, including plenty of kid-friendly options. Plus, selected recipes offer customisation options, so you can make meals work for your household. Add extra protein to feed hungry tummies or to have leftovers for lunch the next day, swap proteins to suit different preferences, or add a side like garlic bread to make dinner go a little further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Fresh Start<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For families looking for more health-focused meal options, Fresh Start offers dietitian-approved recipes designed around balanced, nourishing meals. There are still plenty of options that can work for the whole family, and selected recipes can be customised too. For example, add wraps to a salad to make it a little more appealing for younger eaters or hungry family members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A few simple reminders for happier mealtimes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Healthy eating habits develop over time, and there&#8217;s no need to put pressure on yourself or your children to get every meal right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few things to keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Keep offering variety:<\/strong> Repeated, positive exposure can help children become more familiar with new foods.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Stay relaxed:<\/strong> Try not to pressure children to eat or finish everything on their plate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Include a familiar food:<\/strong> Serving something your child already enjoys alongside a new food can help make mealtimes feel less daunting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Get them involved:<\/strong> Let children help choose, prepare or serve meals in ways that suit their age.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Be a role model:<\/strong> Enjoy a variety of foods together and let children see you trying new things too.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most importantly, remember that progress doesn&#8217;t happen overnight. Every time your child gets involved in preparing a meal, sees a new vegetable on their plate or sits down to enjoy dinner with the family, it&#8217;s another opportunity to build positive food experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A little planning can go a long way.<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\">My Food Bag<\/a> takes the guesswork out of meal planning, making it easier to get delicious, home-cooked meals on the table and build healthy eating habits into your family&#8217;s routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fisher, J. O., et al. (2024). <em>Repeated Exposure to Foods and Food Acceptance: A Systematic Review<\/em>. USDA Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>van der Horst, K., et al. (2021). <em>Supporting strategies for enhancing vegetable liking in the early years of life: an umbrella review of systematic reviews<\/em>. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ng, C. M., et al. (2022). <em>Involvement of children in hands-on meal preparation and the associated nutrition outcomes: A scoping review<\/em>. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 35(2), 350\u2013362.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fraser, K., et al. (2023). <em>Meal kit subscription services and opportunities to improve family vegetable consumption<\/em>. Health Promotion International, 38(6).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Between school, work, after-school activities and everything else that comes with family life, getting a nutritious dinner on the table every night can feel like another thing on an already long to-do list. And when you&#8217;re also trying to find meals that everyone will enjoy, it can be tempting to stick to the same meals [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":37410,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2353,2361,2869,2870,2354,1],"tags":[2910,1921,1747,1847,2031],"class_list":["post-37409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-fresh-start","category-meal-kit-guides","category-meal-kit-guides-bargain-box","category-my-food-bag","category-uncategorized","tag-family","tag-kid-friendly","tag-lifestyle","tag-my-food-bag","tag-nutrition"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37409"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37409\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37414,"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37409\/revisions\/37414"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myfoodbag.co.nz\/explore\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}