My kids usually beg for the latest sugary drink or Little Debbie treat. Here's how I rein them in.
While you're saving money at the supermarket, teach your kids healthy, cost-conscious shopping skills.
Give them a job
Keep your kids busy when they tag along to the supermarket. My 8-year-old daughter is mature enough to roam the store looking for milk or eggs. I keep my son, 5, with me as we search for items on our list. My daughter has learned to read unit pricing labels, while my son now realizes there's more to the grocery store than the cookie aisle.
Search for a new food to try
Before you enter the store, decide to try one new item, such as a different fruit or vegetable or unusual cheese variety. The kids may gravitate to the seductive cereal aisle, so set your guidelines before the search begins.
Explain your purchases
Tell your children why you're buying the whole-wheat bread rather than the white variety. Explain that homemade macaroni and cheese is more wholesome and tastes better than the kind from the box.
Bring a diversion
To be honest, grocery shopping isn't high on the list of kids' favorite actvities. If they're young enough to sit in the cart, bring a coloring book or toy car. For years, my son loved to carry a cheap plastic comb around as we shopped. It never touched a single strand of his hair, but it kept him occupied throughout our trip.
Go it alone
Especially when my kids were younger, a trip to the supermarket was a welcome respite from a day of constant activity. Use the time alone in the grocery store as therapy. Stop and read the magazines. Gaze at the cakes in the bakery. Come home rested and, hopefully, without even one box of sugary cereal or Little Debbie cakes.
