Do not think it is a daunting task to make your home healthy
Creating a nutritionally healthy home is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure the health of your kids. To start, make smart food choices, and help your kids develop a positive relationship with healthy food. Your children will learn their food smarts from your example.
The following are ten great tips to get your children to eat healthy food:
1. Do not restrict food. Restricting food increases the risk your child may develop eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia later in life. It can also have a negative effect on growth and development. Also by restricting food you will actually increase the risk of overeating later in the day which will cause weight gain.
2. Have healthy food in your home. Your kids will eat what is visible to them. Use this to your advantage. For instance, keep apples, oranges, bananas and pears in a bowl on the counter, not a drawer in the fridge. Also limit the empty calorie foods which you keep on hand. Doing this will teach your children how to select a healthier diet.
3. Try not to label foods as positive and negative. Conversely, you should associate foods with things that are important to your children. For example, educate your child on the importance that salmon plays in boosting cognitive abilities, and eggs play in providing high energy for sports performance.
4. Praise healthy choices. Give your children a proud smile and tell them how smart they are when they choose healthy foods. Kids thrive on positive reinforcement!
5. Don't nag about unhealthy choices. If your child chooses unhealthy foods infrequently, ignore it. However, if your child always wants fatty, fried food, redirect the choice. You might try roasting potato sticks in the oven (tossed in just a bit of oil) instead of buying french fries. Or, if your child wants candy, you might make fresh strawberries dipped in a little chocolate sauce. Too busy? Then keep naturally sweet dried fruit at home for quick snacks. With consistent effort taste buds change and soon your child will be craving healthy foods.
6. Absolutely avoid rewarding children with food. Doing so often leads to weight problems later on in life. Rather, you should reward your children with a healthy activity, such as going swimming, or a trip to the park.
7. Sit down to family dinners at night. If this isn't a tradition in your home, it should be. Research shows that children who eat dinners at the table with their parents have better nutrition and are less likely to get in serious trouble as teenagers. Start with one night a week, and then work up to three or four, to gradually build the habit.
8. Ration food portions for your children in the kitchen. This allows you to place healthy food portions on everyone's plate. In time, your children will be able to determine what is a healthy portion size.
9. Allow your children to exercise some decision making. Listen to your children's food likes and dislikes. This is especially important when it comes to healthy food. When healthy foods are the food of choice for your children, serve these foods to them more often. Conversely, offer foods which your children do not like less often.
10. Consultation with a pediatrician prior to changing your child's diet is recommended, if possible. If your child does need to change their weight, then make sure that you consult the proper literary resources to receive the help that you need. - 30443
Creating a nutritionally healthy home is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure the health of your kids. To start, make smart food choices, and help your kids develop a positive relationship with healthy food. Your children will learn their food smarts from your example.
The following are ten great tips to get your children to eat healthy food:
1. Do not restrict food. Restricting food increases the risk your child may develop eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia later in life. It can also have a negative effect on growth and development. Also by restricting food you will actually increase the risk of overeating later in the day which will cause weight gain.
2. Have healthy food in your home. Your kids will eat what is visible to them. Use this to your advantage. For instance, keep apples, oranges, bananas and pears in a bowl on the counter, not a drawer in the fridge. Also limit the empty calorie foods which you keep on hand. Doing this will teach your children how to select a healthier diet.
3. Try not to label foods as positive and negative. Conversely, you should associate foods with things that are important to your children. For example, educate your child on the importance that salmon plays in boosting cognitive abilities, and eggs play in providing high energy for sports performance.
4. Praise healthy choices. Give your children a proud smile and tell them how smart they are when they choose healthy foods. Kids thrive on positive reinforcement!
5. Don't nag about unhealthy choices. If your child chooses unhealthy foods infrequently, ignore it. However, if your child always wants fatty, fried food, redirect the choice. You might try roasting potato sticks in the oven (tossed in just a bit of oil) instead of buying french fries. Or, if your child wants candy, you might make fresh strawberries dipped in a little chocolate sauce. Too busy? Then keep naturally sweet dried fruit at home for quick snacks. With consistent effort taste buds change and soon your child will be craving healthy foods.
6. Absolutely avoid rewarding children with food. Doing so often leads to weight problems later on in life. Rather, you should reward your children with a healthy activity, such as going swimming, or a trip to the park.
7. Sit down to family dinners at night. If this isn't a tradition in your home, it should be. Research shows that children who eat dinners at the table with their parents have better nutrition and are less likely to get in serious trouble as teenagers. Start with one night a week, and then work up to three or four, to gradually build the habit.
8. Ration food portions for your children in the kitchen. This allows you to place healthy food portions on everyone's plate. In time, your children will be able to determine what is a healthy portion size.
9. Allow your children to exercise some decision making. Listen to your children's food likes and dislikes. This is especially important when it comes to healthy food. When healthy foods are the food of choice for your children, serve these foods to them more often. Conversely, offer foods which your children do not like less often.
10. Consultation with a pediatrician prior to changing your child's diet is recommended, if possible. If your child does need to change their weight, then make sure that you consult the proper literary resources to receive the help that you need. - 30443
About the Author:
Looking resources to assist in weight loss for kids, then visit Megan Hillard's website to find the best advice on weight loss for children, your children.
