Healthy eating is crucial during the growth and development of young kids, and balanced nutrition can sharpen children’s mind, improve their energy levels and maintain normal weight.
All parents want their children to be as healthy as they can be. By encouraging and developing healthy eating habits early, you can make a make a huge impact on your child’s lifelong relation with food.
Early childhood is the ideal time to start teaching about healthy habits. Here are some of the healthy hints, to encourage healthy eating habits in your children.
Educate yourself on healthy eating
This is the first and foremost step to inculcate healthy eating habits in your child. You can teach your child healthy eating only if you know what eating healthily means. Know more about foods and their nutrient content.
Get rid of junk food in your home
You can’t eat when it is not there, and the same goes with the children. Simply, don’t have junk food in your house. You can’t stop your kids eating chips at their friend’s house, but you are in charge of foods that enter your home. Instead, fill your kitchen cupboards with healthier options, like fruits, sweetened yogurt, whole grain options and peanuts.
Go food shopping with your kids
Talk to your children about healthy vegetables and fruits. Knowledge of the foods that they are eating can encourage healthy eating habits in them. To show your child healthy eating choices, take them food shopping, and let them pick different types of foods from the shelves.
Together, compare products and look for those that are healthy and environmentally responsible. Make a game out of picking different colors of vegetables and fruits.
Have regular family meals
Establish a daily eating schedule for your family. Eating together not just helps in family bonding, but also allows children to imitate what adults eat. Keep family meals pleasant, positive and interactive.
Avoid making any comments on the amount or type of your food your child eats. Avoid watching TV or newspaper while having meals. Instead, indulge in positive conversation with your child and ask them about their day at school or their planned activity for the day.
Start with small portion sizes
Offer your child small, easy-to-eat amounts to make eating easy and more enjoyable. Do not insist your child to clean out his plate. Your child will stop when he has had enough.
Use small, colorful bowls or plate for your child to eat with. If you will constantly pressurize your child in eating more or trying new foods, it will just reduce your child’s acceptance to eat new or different foods.
Involve them in cooking food
This is a great opportunity to teach your child about healthy foods. Get your child involved in meal preparation. Give them a chance to select the menu for the lunch or dinner.
Select age-appropriate activities for your kids, and let them have fun in the kitchen. Your kids can involve in peeling potato or cucumber, washing veggies and fruits, or frying eggs.
Avoid irregular snacking
Another important tip is to set up a regular snack and meal time. Most children do well with three meals and two or three snacks a day. Regular scheduled meal and snack times help your child learn structure for eating.
Do not let your child snack one hour before dinner or lunch, as it will spoil his hunger. And if he does have something, pick light and healthier options, such as baby carrots with yogurt dip or apple slices.
Be a role model
As a parent, you can influence your child’s eating habits. Children are great imitators, so they pick up eating habits from their mom and dad. To inculcate healthy eating habits in their children, the parents should set a role model.
If your kids see you constantly snacking on unhealthy foods, they will assume that this normal. So, by making healthy food choices for yourself, make sure you are sending a right food message.
Source: http://www.lovingyourchild.com/2013/09/how-to-inculcate-good-eating-habits-with-your-kids/