Encouraging Healthy Eating Habits
Teaching your child healthy eating habits needs a little planning, as it means choosing foods from all food groups and eating fewer foods that are high in sugar and fat, this does not mean your child cannot have an occasional treat now and then. Including your children when planning meals and grocery shopping, is an excellent starting point, and when they are old enough, this can be extended to food preparation, safety, cooking and food labels, they will love the hands on experience.
To encourage good eating habits, you must first initiate a regular meal and snack schedule. Most children need three meals, plus a couple of snacks daily.
You can’t expect your child to change overnight, but start by ensuring you eat as a family, whenever you can, so that you set an example, and give them more fruit and vegetables, at meal times and as snacks.
Pay particular attention to portions sizes, especially of the less nutritious foods, and let your child decide when he or she is full up, never force them to eat more than they want.
When encouraging healthy eating habits and trying new foods at a meal, make sure the meal always includes foods that your child likes, and don’t become disheartened, as it usually takes several tries before a child will accept a new food.
Cut back on soda pop, and other drinks high in sugar. Buy a novelty jug, plus a matching tumbler and keep it full of cold water in the refrigerator, so your child can help his or her self.
Make sure you are setting a good example, as if you do not eat well and your weight is out of control, then its possible that your child is learning bad eating habits from you.
As well as making changes in eating habits, make exercise part of your family’s life, and reduce television and computer time. Spend more time playing with a ball in the park, searching for shells on the beach, walking in the woods and enjoying being a family together. You will be surprised just how much you all benefit.
