Baby Nutrition – 6 Ways to Encourage Healthy Eating Habits in Kids
By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist
With all the leftover Halloween candy filling up your pantry, and more on the horizon with the impending holiday season, it can be tough as a parent to find that balance between allowing occasional sweets and eating healthy. The tempting pile of treats can lead to over-indulgence if you’re not careful, yet every once in a while a little candy is ok if it is part of a healthy diet. It is never to early to start teaching your children how to make smart food choices, and studies have shown that getting a head start on teaching healthy eating can lead to a lifetime of good food choices. Here are six ways to encourage healthy eating habits in your kids:
1. Lead by example: Taking the “do as I say not as I do” approach to mealtimes simply won’t work. Your children are watching and looking to you for role modeling. As a new study just discovered, kids as early as two years old when given the chance to “grocery shop” chose foods very similar to what their parents did.
2. Take kids shopping: Not only does the grocery store make a great classroom, having your child with you and letting them pick out new foods try makes them more inclined to eat the healthier choices.
3. Make it tasty: Although that may seem obvious, be realistic about what your child will try especially when it comes to flavor and texture- kids like food that tastes good too! Going from potato chips to Brussel sprouts might be a stretch, but dipping some carrot sticks in salad dressing is a great place to start.
4. Find some fun: Kids of all ages love fun, so by making trying a new food an adventure, a game, or an exciting experience you will be sure to capture their undivided attention. This also applies to avoiding using punishment when they don’t eat their veggies.
5. Let them help: Let your children help prepare meals, they are far more inclined to eat foods they had a hand in preparing. It is also another fund way to keep a strong bond with your child.
6. Try, try again: the old adage that states if at first you don’t succeed, try again comes in handy when trying to get kids to sample new foods. Child development experts explain that kids may need to see a food a few times before they will try it, but if you are consistent and patient they will eventually take a taste.
Baby Nutrition – 6 Ways to Encourage Healthy Eating Habits in Kids
By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist
With all the leftover Halloween candy filling up your pantry, and more on the horizon with the impending holiday season, it can be tough as a parent to find that balance between allowing occasional sweets and eating healthy. The tempting pile of treats can lead to over-indulgence if you’re not careful, yet every once in a while a little candy is ok if it is part of a healthy diet. It is never to early to start teaching your children how to make smart food choices, and studies have shown that getting a head start on teaching healthy eating can lead to a lifetime of good food choices. Here are six ways to encourage healthy eating habits in your kids:
1. Lead by example: Taking the “do as I say not as I do” approach to mealtimes simply won’t work. Your children are watching and looking to you for role modeling. As a new study just discovered, kids as early as two years old when given the chance to “grocery shop” chose foods very similar to what their parents did.
3. Make it tasty: Although that may seem obvious, be realistic about what your child will try especially when it comes to flavor and texture- kids like food that tastes good too! Going from potato chips to Brussel sprouts might be a stretch, but dipping some carrot sticks in salad dressing is a great place to start.
4. Find some fun: Kids of all ages love fun, so by making trying a new food an adventure, a game, or an exciting experience you will be sure to capture their undivided attention. This also applies to avoiding using punishment when they don’t eat their veggies.
5. Let them help: Let your children help prepare meals, they are far more inclined to eat foods they had a hand in preparing. It is also another fund way to keep a strong bond with your child.
6. Try, try again: the old adage that states if at first you don’t succeed, try again comes in handy when trying to get kids to sample new foods. Child development experts explain that kids may need to see a food a few times before they will try it, but if you are consistent and patient they will eventually take a taste.