Healthy Eating Habits For Children

By developing healthy eating habits in your children you can also develop a healthy lifestyle and a good growth of body. If your children obtain healthy eating habits then surely they will develop a healthy lifestyle as adults. Some of the most important aspects of healthy eating are portion control and cutting down on how much fat your child eats. Simple ways to reduce fat intake in your child’s diet and promote a healthy weight include serving:

• Low-fat or nonfat dairy products
• Poultry without skin
• Lean cuts of meats
• Whole grain breads and cereals
• Healthy snacks such as fruit and veggies
• Also reduce amount of sugar and salt in your child’s meals and avoid soft drinks

Approaches that parents can develop in their children:

• Encouraging children to eat slowly

Parents should encourage their children to ear slowly and relish their food because fast eating habits may not digest the food properly. On the other hand if a child relish their food digestion of food takes preoperly.

• Encourage children to drink more water

Drinking more water is good for health and parents should discourage consumption of soft drinks among children.

• Plan for snacks

Continuous snacking may lead to overeating, but snacks that are planned at specific times during the day can be part of a nutritious diet, without spoiling a child’s appetite at meal times. You should make snacks as nutritious as possible, without depriving your children of occasional chips or cookies, especially at parties or other social events.

• Eat meals together as a family as often as possible

Try to make mealtimes pleasant with conversation and sharing, not a time for scolding or arguing. If mealtimes are unpleasant children may try to eat faster to leave the table as soon as possible. They then may learn to associate eating with stress.

• Discourage eating meals or snacks while watching TV

 Try to eat only in designated areas of your home, such as the dining room or kitchen. Eating in front of the TV may make it difficult to pay attention to feelings of fullness, and may lead to overeating.

• Make sure your children’s meals outside the home are balanced

 Find out more about their school lunch program  or pack their lunch to include a variety of foods. Also select healthier items when you go for dinners at restaurant.

• Pay attention to portion size and ingredients

 Read food labels and also read the ingredients of food before giving them to your children because it should contain less amount of fats, sugar , carbohydrates and more amount of proteins, vitamins etc . Also, make sure you serve the appropriate portion as indicated on the label.