Parents and elders are given the responsibility of teaching good eating habits to children. The first step in teaching them to eat healthy is eating healthy. A child imitates the behavior of adults they observe. If adult influences in their young life are eating and enjoying vegetables and whole grains, it increases the likelihood that the child will want to eat these foods as well.
Children need essential vitamins and minerals in their daily diet to ensure healthy growth. Vitamin D, calcium, iron and zinc are all important. They ensure that a child will have healthy bones and growth patterns.
Another concern with children and nutrition is childhood obesity. This is a growing issue in developed countries with the availability of poor food options around them. The number one vegetable choice for kids is french fries. Teaching our kids to eat healthy is vital in raising a healthy generation. Children who make wrong choices and become obese may face many health problems when they grow up and become adults.
Enlist your child’s help with the menu. Children who take an active role in making decisions about healthy food choices will eat healthier voluntarily. Explain to them the benefits of healthy eating in a way they can understand. Children are intelligent. They want more than candy which is bad for you. Explain to them the importance of nutrition and their growing body at a level they can understand.
Don’t completely ban unhealthy food. We all know that when things are forbidden they are desired even more. We need to teach our children restraint. Eating healthy can be a huge source of frustration if we let it escalate to that point. Some parents think they can’t change their child’s unhealthy eating habits. Balance is key. If you start slowly, and focus on one food at a time, using the tips above, healthy eating patterns can be established in a short amount of time.
Get your kids outside and get them active. Ten to fifteen minutes of sun exposure several times a week will provide a child with a source of vitamin D, which is important for bone and teeth health. Keeping them active on a regular basis also helps them maintain a healthy weight.
We are all concerned that our children are not getting the proper amount of minerals and vitamins. Even if they are eating a well-rounded diet with a variety of whole foods and limited junk food, we still have concerns. Talk to your health care provider. Many times they will recommend the child to take supplements. Food supplements will ensure that your child gets the recommended daily allowance of nutrients recommended by the AAP, the American Association of Pediatrics.
The health of our growing children should be a priority. Getting them the daily nutrients they need for a strong body and mind is vital to raising healthy children. Teach them to try different types of food. Lead by example and eat healthier foods yourself. Limit your intake of junk food and fast food, and watch out for liquids that contain sugar because these liquids are high in calories and many have little nutrition.
Get involved in your child’s food choices. As they get older, they’ll make more of these decisions on their own. Giving them a strong foundation for making the right choices can help make a dramatic difference to the health they enjoy as they grow up.
Source by Vicki Zerbee
