Children aren\’t born knowing what to eat. They also aren\’t born knowing about junk food. Today it\’s nearly impossible, but someone could live their whole life with no knowledge of fast food, pizza, sweets or other oh-so-bad-for-you foods. At some point, we are all given these foods for the first time. We are blessed or cursed by the introduction, depending on how it\’s handled. These first meetings, and all subsequent ones, must be handled carefully by parents to guide our children into good health.
When children are born,they do not know about fast food. They do not know about pizza. They do not know about fried chicken. All they know is the initial training they have gotten in the womb – the initial \”tastes\” they have gotten through the umbilical cord.
But the world around us fights these sorts of efforts constantly. All fast food restaurants push their \”super\” size. Ads for these less-than-healthy types of restaurants are everywhere too. Parents can\’t turn around without being presented with \”easy\” options for food – options that usually aren\’t even close to being healthy.
We live in a society that promotes super sizes and food on the go. Instead, please allow your children to learn good habits that they\’ll keep their entire lives. Children are great followers. Take advantage of this to teach them how to eat healthy and to understand the importance of nutritional value for good health.
Need some help getting these healthy habits going? Here are ten tips for you and your children: 1.Walk together as a family. 2. Prepare balanced and healthy meals. Try to include colorful fruits and vegetables. Don\’t forget to limit both sugar and saturated fat, which are proven to have a negative impact on your health. 2. Drink water at every meal. Keep away from soda. Save it for special occasions, but try to keep from stocking up on it at home. 3.Make fruit juice (watered down to reduce the sugar) and whole organic milk a part of your daily eating habits. Both provide health benefits, especially for your children. 4. Refrain from giving your children sugar as a reward. Instead, try to make fruits and vegetables fun and interesting. Let their favorites become rewards. Keep sweets out of your children diets as long as possible. 5. Eat snacks several times a day and small meals at mealtimes. Choose one meal to be the \”big\” one – either breakfast or lunch. For the rest of your meals, especially dinner, serve small portions, and don\’t forget to include fruits and veggies! 6. Balance your family\’s diet with proteins, carbohydrates and colorful fruits and vegetables. Let your kids have seconds, but be careful to keep them from overeating. 7. Take time for your kids. Talk and be involved in each others lives. A great way to do this is by exercising together and making it a regular and expected activity. 8. Encourage your kids to stay active rather than sitting in front of the television or video games. Set a timer and limit their time on them, if you have to. Make them special treats rather than regular activities. 9. Keep your children interested in trying new foods. Introduce new things at the dinner table on a regular basis – especially fruits and vegetables – and make it fun! 10.It doesn\’t matter when you start, just THAT you start pursuing being healthy and fit. Don\’t let a late start discourage you. Your family\’s health is too important.
Tony Khatemi is a Vegetarian with over 25 years in the field of exercise, nutrition and healthy living focused on digestive health. Living by example is his motto. Pickup a free reports on fruits & veggies. for the most natural and effective supplements in the world. Please type IBD, IBS, Crohn\’s or any GI related disease in the search box for results.
