There is no doubt that most children prefer a bowl of ice cream over a bowl of yogurt. They would much rather eat a piece of pizza than broiled salmon over brown rice. However any child can learn to like almost anything, but it requires you, the parent, to teach them how to like the good versus the bad. Developing good eating habits at a young age can help keep your child from becoming obese and developing health issues later in life. It's how you teach them that makes the difference.
Instructions
1. Start early. It is never too early to lay the foundation for good eating habits. Once your child is old enough to begin eating solid foods, offer him fruits and vegetables as snacks, rather than cookies. While it's not uncommon for a toddler to turn his head away from new foods, especially veggies such as broccoli and carrots, persistence is the key to success for developing good eating habits early in his life.
2. Set a good example. The "Do as I say, not as I do," theory generally doesn't work when it comes to establishing good eating habits for your child. If you want your child to eat healthy, you have to do the same. Your child will be much more likely to try eat salads and whole-grain cereal if she sees you eating them as well.
3. Take him shopping. It can be hard to eat healthy of you don't know what foods are healthy for you and why. Taking your child grocery shopping is one of the easiest ways to teach him how to make the best food choices. Show him how to choose the freshest fruits and vegetables and explain why fresh is better than canned. As you make your way through the aisles, explain to him what a food label is and how to read it. When you make your meat choices, demonstrate the difference between lean cuts of meat versus those with fat. Kids have a tendency to learn faster when the lesson is hands-on, as opposed to a lecture.
4. Help them plan a meal. Planning a meal is not only fun for a child, it also gives them an opportunity to make food choices for themselves. Once she is finished, examine her meal and discuss it with her. Talk about the choices she made and why, and suggest healthier alternatives without making her feel as though she failed. For instance, if she chose french fries as a side, suggest a baked potato topped with salsa instead.
5. Give him a chance to cook. Part of eating healthy is food preparation. It is extremely easy to take something with nutritional value and turn it into an enemy of your arteries. Allowing your child to help you cook dinner one evening gives him the opportunity to make healthier choices as well. Rather than butter for sautéing your veggies or steak, use olive oil and explain the difference. When making your pasta, talk to him about the importance of using whole-grain versus refined white. While these choices may seem unimportant, your words may leave a lasting impression.
6. Make it easy. One of the easiest ways to instill good eating habits in your child is to keep your cupboards and refrigerator full of healthy snacks, especially for the times when you are not home. This can include peanut butter for celery sticks or apples, string cheese, and yogurt for topping fruits like raspberries. If you keep her choices limited to healthy choices, eating well will become a habit she will carry with her into her adult life.
7. Limit fast food. Part of healthy eating is not just giving your child good choices, but steering clear of the bad ones as well. While eating out once in a while is okay, it shouldn't become habitual. Fast-food restaurants are full of saturated and trans fats, though many are beginning to offer healthier items, especially for children. The bottom line is that you don't truly know what's going into your body unless you make it yourself.
