Tips to help kids develop healthy eating habits
By cdparazo
@cdparazo (5765)
Philippines
March 27, 2007 7:34am CST
Here are some tips which were given during a seminar on parenting in one of the schools here in my country:
1. eat together as a family at least once a day when both parents are working
2. pray before meals
3. wash hands before and after eating
4. make a variety of nutritious and appetizing meals
5. introduce new food and insist that children at least try a spoonful
6. include kids in the planning a preparation of meals
7. show kids how good an example you are in terms of healthy eating
8. discourage snacking before meals
9. put on the child's plate on what is enough for him to finish
10. don't use candies or sweets to bribe kids to eat their vegetables.
11. dont serve fruit drinks which may contain only water and sugar and 10% juice. Serve fruit juice instead
12. encourage kids to drink lots of water
13. teach the child not to talk while eating and turn off the TV during meal times
14. make the child sit at the table when feeding him. Don't chase him around with a spoonful of fo
For other parents out there, it would be real helpful to other parents too if you have something to add to the tips above for the children to develop a healthy eating habit. I hope that some parents also find the above tips helpful as I did.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@michelledarcy (5220)
•
27 Mar 07
I am wondering how praying before meals helps kids develop healthy eating habits.
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@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
28 Mar 07
It would help them realize that having food on our table should be something that we should always be thankful of and food should be something that they should not be wasteful of. Come to think of it, there are many children who cant even have a decent meal once a day.
@gfelix (12)
• United States
27 Mar 07
I'm going to have to add Make vegetables part of every meal right from the beginning.
We have done that with our kids as soon as they were old enough to eat. We never made a big deal about "You have to eat your vegetables." If you do that, kids want to do the exact opposite of what you say they "have to do." Our girls' favorite food is broccolli. We don't smother the vegetables in anything to get them to eat it.
Also, if your kids have tried something and say they don't like it, don't force them to eat it. There are certain foods adults don't like, but we don't have to eat them.
Never force your children to finish their plate or be part of the "clean plate club." That just shows them they should keep eating, even if they are full, which sets them up to become over-eaters.
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