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How to Balance Kids’s Eating Preferences with a Healthy Lifestyle

Recently we talked with Chloe Epstein, an Upper East Side mom of three and co-founder of Soft Serve Fruit Co., about her approach to kids and healthy eating. We learned a lot, but first see how Chloe has adapted meal times for her kids to not only be fun, but that also leaves her feeling good about what they are eating.

They may look similar, but my three kids are nothing alike. Their personalities are completely distinct. If you gave me an anonymous quote from any one of them, I could immediately guess to whom it belongs. However different, one thing is the same…their passion for SNACK! All three were able to ask, or well, demand for snack before they could say their names. And while I would love to brand them as “advanced” in this area, I quickly noticed a trend in the early years, which has endured over time. Snack time is a focal point of the day. The kids grow to expect it, and despite your best efforts to keep it wholesome, there is just too much competition!

From there, came the idea for The Soft Serve Fruit Co.I l have always had a love of sweets but also want to make sure I am eating healthy and setting a good example for my kids. Like many of us, I used to rely on frozen yogurt for my “healthy” treat fix. Once I became pregnant and started feeding my children, I became increasingly frustrated by the artificial ingredients and flavor of my habit. I could not confidently feed it to my kids and thought I deserved better, as well. My business partners and I wanted to create an alternative to the additives of frozen yogurt, as well as the fat found in ice cream. We wanted something simple, wholesome, natural and, most importantly, delicious that could satiate that frozen treat craving. With three simple ingredients; real fruit, water and a touch of organic cane sugar, we achieved our goal, opened our first storefront on the Upper East Side and the rest is history.

Now, snack time for me is not as intimidating. I also know I have some ammunition in my back pocket. Something the kids will perceive as a treat, “ice cream” in their minds, and something I can feel great about giving them.  Soft Serve Fruit has no dairy, gluten, fat, sodium and, best of all, you can feel confident knowing it is a healthy, yet delicious snack.

I try to keep my home as “clean” as I can. By that I mean we always have a ton of fruits and vegetables, and we are all aware of the importance of having balanced meals. However, dinnertime is not as easy as snacktime, as we all know. I try to expose my kids to different flavors and consistencies and, much of the time, I strike out, but they have fun with it.

Recently, my kids have started requesting “healthy” days where they get to design the menu. For example, on the most recent healthy day they asked for oatmeal for breakfast, (lunch is away from home and is out of my hands), fruit salad for snack and salmon with broccoli for dinner. I most enthusiastically obliged. It went well, but you can be sure they requested pasta the next night! I just try to keep it interesting and have learned that just because they like something one day, does not mean they will like it the next. And just because they scarf down the cauliflower on Tuesday, don’t try to serve it every night, biding your time until they protest. Sooner rather than later they will revolt and develop a deep resentment for the innocent vegetable! They are kids, and we have to remember that Mac and Cheese will always be more appealing than chicken. Gently exposing them to the benefits of good eating habits early on can only help them. My daughters now want to eat meat to keep their hair shiny and eyes sparkling, and my son is down with the extra protein for his big muscles. Whatever the reason, they are developing their own interest in healthy eating and that is as sweet of a treat as I can ask for.

SHARED By: Chloe Epstein
Living healthy has always been a priority for Chloe. As a mother of three, Chloe was constantly searching for foods that pleased her children’s palates while providing them with essential nutrients. She finally found the perfect solution in co-creating Soft Serve Fruit Co. Blending her experiences as a mother and active New Yorker, Chloe sought to develop a brand that would indulge parents and kids both in aesthetics and taste. Her kids now beg her for Soft Serve Fruit and are constantly making suggestions for new varieties! Prior to starting SSFC, Chloe was an Assistant NYC District Attorney and Stribling real estate broker.