Nutrition is a significant component of a child’s overall health and
development. It’s crucial to cultivate healthy eating as early as possible since
it brings a slew of advantages. Having healthy eating habits can help:
- Stabilize their energy
- Sharpen thinking skills
- Even out their moods
- Keep them at a healthy body weight
- Help prevent mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression
In fact, nutrition has been used therapeutically and in conjunction with
medication to manage conditions like diabetes and hypertension. When kids
adopt healthy eating habits early on, it can also mitigate the chance of them
acquiring lifestyle-induced health conditions.
medication to manage conditions like diabetes and hypertension. When kids
adopt healthy eating habits early on, it can also mitigate the chance of them
acquiring lifestyle-induced health conditions.
Parents should actively and consciously build these healthy habits as early as
possible. Here are some tips to get you started:
possible. Here are some tips to get you started:
Get your children involved in the kitchen
When all they see is the end result on a plate on a table, kids can feel
detached from their nutritional goals. Getting them involved in meal
planning, preparation, and consumption can interest them in food. Make planning meals a weekly activity where you can talk about healthy food options. You can also do grocery shopping with them to teach them to pick produce and explain
nutritional requirements. You can also take a closer look at the nutrition labels
of their go-to snacks and discuss dietary values instead of villainizing food.
nutritional requirements. You can also take a closer look at the nutrition labels
of their go-to snacks and discuss dietary values instead of villainizing food.
Gamify healthy eating
Making eating fun is a good strategy, especially for picky eaters and younger
kids. However, don’t go overboard and ensure they still know that eating isn’t
part of playtime. For instance, you can get them to eat healthy food by
challenging them to fill their plate with as many colors as possible—provide
lots of vegetables and nutrition-packed food. You can also do dares by having
them try new produce each week. This expands their palate and will help you
get them to eat the same food again.
Keep an open conversation about nutrition
Children understand more than adults think. Even if they have difficulty
speaking or expressing themselves with words, communication science
professionals encourage parents to keep dialogues open anyway. And they
suggest you do it with patience and understanding. This is why it’s essential to
have open communication and discussions with them. Instead of just telling
them to eat healthy food, explain why you’re asking them to do this. Talk
about how it can benefit and harm them when they’re not meeting their
nutritional needs. Additionally, do prior research and be prepared to answer
questions about food and health.
Give them autonomy over their food choices
Many kids are discouraged when they feel like they’re being forced to eat. When they don’t have a say over their meals or food choices, eating can be a negative experience. It can be frustrating to negotiate this situation, but a general rule is not to force children. Saying “ take one more bite ” can make eating time tense.
A better way to get your child to eat is by putting the food in front of them and asking them to try it. Mention how there’s no pressure for them to finish the serving if they don’t like it. This way, they have authority over their bodies and will feel in control. If they refuse to eat more, you can try again later. Most kids need to try the same food about 15 times before they know whether they like it or not.
Written by Analee Flynn for norani.com
