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Water
You can start by drinking plenty of water. How many times do you drink soda instead of water? Water is so much better for you. Your child will most likely drink more water when seeing you do the same. According to Mayoclinic.com, water makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. In addition, it flushes toxins out of vital organs. Water is powerful. You can also explain the importance of water to your child. Children are very receptive when given the reasons for doing some things.
Michelle Obama talks on WebMD about Simple Tips for Healthy Families. She emphasizes that desserts are not everyday treats for her children. Rather they are treats now and then or on the weekend. I think that is a great idea.
I have heard some people say that they do not have an appetite to eat sometimes. This would be a good time to drink water. Drinking water can prevent dehydration also. Sometimes we might want to think of our bodies as a working machine in progress. Just as we refuel our cars with gasoline, we need to refuel our bodies with water.
Develop Healthy Habits
Show your child your healthy habits. According to Children.wedmd.com, it is important to encourage your child to eat slowly. Also, make it a point to eat together as a family as often as possible. In today’s society, everyone is busy, but take time to eat together. I cannot count the number of times I have seen adults and children eating so fast, as though this were their last meal. In fact, as I sat down with several children, I noticed one had finished eating, while everyone else was still eating. This occurred within a matter of minutes. Take time and enjoy the food. Savor the food for the moment. Savor the aroma that the food exudes.
I have talked with some parents that say their children love vegetables. This is just great. Even though there may be children that do not like certain fruits and vegetables, parents can make eating a fun time.
Parents Involvement in School
Parents can become more involved in knowing what your child is eating at school meals. There are those schools that are emphasizing fresh fruit and vegetables with the meals daily. This is great. Children need to know that the parents are concerned about their meals at school. Some schools are banning soda pops. This is another great idea.
Out to Eat
When your family goes out to eat, let your child see you making healthy food choices for your meal. Are you the parent that orders the nice fat juicy steak? Also, look at how often you are going out to eat. I have noticed that children learn what McDonald’s is at a very early age. You might want to look at how often you are going out to eat. If you are going out to eat all the time, your child will think this is the norm and just want to eat out.
So just, remember your child is watching you. It is easy to develop good habits for your child to model after. Will you share this article with a friend?
Source:
Mayo Clinic.com, October 2, 2011, Nutrition and Healthy Eating, Health benefits of water
Children.wedmd.com, Renee A. Alli, MD, FAAP, June 23, 2012, Children’s Health, Healthy Eating Habits For Your Child
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