This is not surprising that parents may need help to understand what it means to eat healthy. From the Food Guide Pyramid food into the latest fashion, can be very confusing.
The good news is that you will not need a degree in nutrition to raise healthy children. Here are some basic guidelines can help you encourage your kids to eat right and maintain a healthy weight.
Here are 10 key rules to live by:
1. Parents control the supply lines. You decide to buy food and when to serve them. Although the kids would bother their parents for less nutritious foods, adults should be responsible when deciding which foods are regularly stocked in the house. Children will not starve. They will eat what is available in the cupboard and fridge at home. If their favorite food is not all that nutritious, you can still buy them occasionally so they do not feel deprived.
2. From the food you offer, kids can choose what they will eat or whether to eat at all. Children need to have some say in this. From the choice you offer, let them choose what to eat and how much they want. This may seem like too much freedom a little. But if you follow step 1, your kids will choose only the foods you buy and serve.
3. Out of the "clean-plate club." Let the kids stop eating when they felt they had enough. Many parents grew up under the rules of the clean-plate, but the approach does not help kids listen to their own bodies when they feel full. When the children see and respond to feelings of fullness, they are less likely to overeat.
4. Start them young. Food preferences are developed early in life, so that the various bids. Likes and dislikes begin forming even when kids babies. You may need to serve new foods on different occasions for a child to accept it. Do not force children to eat, but offer a few bites. With children who are older, ask them to try one bite.
5. Rewriting the kids menu. Who says kids only want to eat hot dogs, pizza, burgers, and macaroni and cheese? When eating out, let your children try new foods and they might surprise you with their willingness to experiment. You can start by letting them try a little of whatever you ordered or ordering an appetizer for them to try.
6. Drink calories count. Soda and other sugary drinks add extra calories and get in the way of good nutrition. Water and milk is the best drink for children. Juice fine when it is 100%, but the children do not need a lot of it - 4 to 6 ounces day is enough for preschoolers.
7. Enter the candy in their place. Occasionally candy fine, but do not change the dessert to be the main reason for dinner. When dessert is a reward for dinner, the children would give more value to the cupcake than the broccoli. Try to stay neutral about foods.
8. Food is not love. Discover a better way to say "I love you." When food is used to reward the kids and show affection, they may start using food to cope with stress or other emotions. Offer hugs, praise, and attention instead of food treats.
9. Children do as you do. Be a role model and eat yourself healthy. When trying to teach good eating habits, try to set the best example possible. Choose nutritious foods, eat at the table, and do not skip meals.
10. Limit TV and computer time. When you do, you'll avoid mindless snacking and encourage activity. Research has shown that children who cut down on TV-watching also reduced their body fat percentage. When TV and computer time is limited, they will find things that are more active to do. And limiting "screen time" means you will have more time to be active together.
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