Tips For Inculcating Good Eating Habits And Thwarting Eventual Childhood Obesity
by: Jasper Conan
Poor eating habits do come with a price! What you get is not just an oversized body, but possibly a host of other concomitant diseases that will leave you feeling lethargic. Surely this is something you do not wish to see in your child, for their learning capacity in the earlier years is enormously powerful and therefore they should be in good health to make the most during these vital years. With this in mind, it is of paramount importance that as a parent, you take a proactive approach to instilling good eating habits in your child.
It is common that children usually have the habit of choosing foods. This is a normal part of growing up. Most choosy eaters aged between one and a half up to five. Parents need to ensure that they develop healthy eating habits during these years for otherwise they will find it hard to alter their unhealthy eating habits when they grow up. Below are some tips to handle choosy eaters and encourage healthy eating habits.
1. Always let your child consume nutritious foods. Cast away the worry that he or she is not eating a lot. It is the quality of the food consumed that is of greater importance, not the quantity.
2. Limit intake of liquid one hour or two before meal as this will reduce the child’s appetite.
3. Occasionally satisfy your child’s taste buds by treating him or her to some nutritious desserts.
4. Avoid letting your child snacks more than twice a day as this will disrupt their eating schedule for meal, thereby causing them to eat irregularly.
5. Know that your child is after all a child and as such may not fully understand the importance of healthy eating habits. Have a positive outlook and be patient in educating your child.
6. Let your child have a say in the type of food consumed. Educate him or her to practice moderation, balance and variety in choosing food.
7. Be creative in serving foods. For example, cut the vegetable or fruit into certain shapes. Decorate the bread with vegetables that resemble a cartoon character. This way, your child may be more receptive towards consuming the foods served and his or her appetite may be aroused too.
8. Make the meal time relaxing and avoid distraction such as television.
Poor eating habits do come with a price! What you get is not just an oversized body, but possibly a host of other concomitant diseases that will leave you feeling lethargic. Surely this is something you do not wish to see in your child, for their learning capacity in the earlier years is enormously powerful and therefore they should be in good health to make the most during these vital years. With this in mind, it is of paramount importance that as a parent, you take a proactive approach to instilling good eating habits in your child.
It is common that children usually have the habit of choosing foods. This is a normal part of growing up. Most choosy eaters aged between one and a half up to five. Parents need to ensure that they develop healthy eating habits during these years for otherwise they will find it hard to alter their unhealthy eating habits when they grow up. Below are some tips to handle choosy eaters and encourage healthy eating habits.
1. Always let your child consume nutritious foods. Cast away the worry that he or she is not eating a lot. It is the quality of the food consumed that is of greater importance, not the quantity.
2. Limit intake of liquid one hour or two before meal as this will reduce the child’s appetite.
3. Occasionally satisfy your child’s taste buds by treating him or her to some nutritious desserts.
4. Avoid letting your child snacks more than twice a day as this will disrupt their eating schedule for meal, thereby causing them to eat irregularly.
5. Know that your child is after all a child and as such may not fully understand the importance of healthy eating habits. Have a positive outlook and be patient in educating your child.
6. Let your child have a say in the type of food consumed. Educate him or her to practice moderation, balance and variety in choosing food.
7. Be creative in serving foods. For example, cut the vegetable or fruit into certain shapes. Decorate the bread with vegetables that resemble a cartoon character. This way, your child may be more receptive towards consuming the foods served and his or her appetite may be aroused too.
8. Make the meal time relaxing and avoid distraction such as television.
