Teaching Our Children Healthy Eating Habits
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
We all know that teaching our children healthy eating habits is very important, but as the saying goes, easier said than done!
My teenage children are constantly complaining, “There is nothing to eat in this house”. As a parent, let me translate that statement, “There is no junk food to eat in this house”.
We have plenty of food, just not the easy grab-it-and-go junk food that they want me to provide for them.
#1 suggestion for healthy eating: Do not bring junk food into your home.
#2 suggestion: Educate your family on how to read labels. First rule, “you can’t judge a food by its label”. What may scream HEALTHY, NO FAT, LOW FAT, and/or 100% NUTRITIONAL, may not be all that.
#3 suggestion: If your life is so fast, that fast food is your main food source, slow your life down. While many fast food venues are offering more healthy choices, the temptations are still there, especially for a young developing child’s mind. Teaching your child to make good choices when visiting a fast food restaurant is a great lesson, but this should not be a daily lifestyle.
#4 suggestion: Make healthy living a family event. Cook together, exercise together, and learn together. Make menu planning fun family time. Let your children choose their healthy options and be proud of their choices.
Click here to learn more about Childhood Obesity:
http://blog.invitingsmiles.com/?p=199