The Importance Of Healthy Eating Among Kids
In today’s world it has increasingly become difficult for parents to induce the importance of healthy eating among kids. This is primarily because kids are lured easily into the world of fizzy drinks, candies, chocolates, chips and unhealthy fast foods by the advertisements they see. And once they get a taste of these foods, the right mixture of salt, fat and sugar in them ensures that the kids are hooked to them forever. As parents, the onus lies on us to ensure that the kids understand the importance of healthy eating as early as possible. Because once the kids develop healthy eating habits during their childhood, they are set for a healthier, happier and longer life in future.
Now, the big question is how do we make the kids understand the importance of healthy eating? Well, there are a number of ways to do that. But, let’s see some of the simple, yet effective ways of doing so.
- Start it easy. Kids are very sensitive and any kind of sudden change in food habits can be too overwhelming for them. So, the path to healthy eating diets for the kids should be slow but steady.
- When you are cooking a new healthy dish, always try to cook extra servings. This can be refrigerated and can be served to the kids later on. This will avoid rushing to the fast food counter across the street, as there will be ready food available at home in case the kids are hungry. You just need to heat it and serve.
- Eating can be made fun by the help of some nutritional activities for kids. Involve them in shopping those fruits and vegetables that you plan to buy. While preparing the meals, the kids can be asked to peel the fruits, cut the vegetables, stir the foods etc.
- Make the mealtimes interesting while developing healthy eating diets. Tell them some interesting stories. This is the right time to tell them Aesop’s Fables, Grimm Brothers Tales or anything that comes to your mind. Tell them that they would gain the strength by eating broccoli as Spiderman does so to fight the baddies. Tell them how Popeye eats spinach to fight Bruno, his enemy.
- Your kid’ bodies need to be hydrated throughout the day. The primary drink for your kid needs to be water. That apart, natural fruit juices, low-fat milks are healthy alternatives than the fizzy drinks. You cannot make them quit consuming the fizzy drinks at one go, but a patient approach will do it for you.
- The above logic applies for candies as well. Instead of candies, you can buy your kids dark chocolates as these are found to contain antioxidants, reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the bodies. But make sure they wash their mouths properly after eating chocolates.
- Lead by example. Ensure that you join your kids during breakfast or dinner, or both. The kids would love to have you around and sooner or later will try to follow your healthy eating habits. You can monitor their eating activities as well and also bring in some sense of discipline in them, like eating on right time, following table manners etc.
Now you are equipped with all the necessary information about how to induce the importance of healthy eating among kids. Try these simple, yet effective tips and see the effect it has on your kids. After all, we all love our kids and are ready to walk that extra mile to make them grow healthy, hearty and happy. Isn’t it?