Children definitely will grow into adults and it happens very quickly. This is the prayer of all parents.
Children learn to pick up habits and behaviors of their parents most times hook, line, and sinker. This is not only common in how they respond to issues of life but also how they make food choices for themselves as an adult and their own very children.
The need to teach children about food and nutrition at an early age is quite important if truly we are serious about making the world a healthier place in years to come.
So, who is best to help make this world safer health-wise? Parents are sure at the forefront of the battle.
It has now become a norm among parents and guidance to brag and publicly say how their children love chocolates, sweets, chewing gums, and many other sugar-coated food items as such.
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This trend must be quickly tackled as many health conditions not common among children are now resurfacing at an alarming rate. Examples are Type I and Type II Diabetes and Childhood Obesity.
In this post, I will be sharing with you three main steps to follow to ensure your children pick up the right habit to make healthier food choices now and in the future without necessarily excluding all of the processed snacks usually consumed by children while keeping them healthy.
1. Let the children take part in home cooking:
Cooking can be really fun to children and that’s if you make it look fun.
From age three and above, children can be engaged in simple errands like asking them to pick up something from the fridge, etc.
Engage them when cooking a favorite meal like fried rice garnished with plenty of vegetables while introducing them to the reasons they should eat veggies.
As your children sight you performing activities like slicing and cutting of ingredients used in a healthy meal, they are learning and will inculcate such skills and food habits.
2. Lead by example:
Many adults have not outgrown their childhood days. They still love lollipops, chocolates, and other sugary food items usually consumed by children.
In doing this in the presence of their own children, they transfer the same habit of perpetual unhealthy eating to them.
Imagine each day you come back from work and you go straight to the refrigerator to pick a serving of fruits like watermelon or apple for a bite, your children might just say “Mummy I want one too”.
There should be a conscious effort to lead by example in order to help your child make healthier choices.
3. Include fruits in their snacks:
Snacks have now been seen as processed foods in the forms of confectioneries and baked foods only. In truth, they are not. Children can be taught to snack on fruits even at school once in a while.
Children love it sweet, creamy and sometimes crunchy. You can include fruits like banana, apple and golden melon as snacks for them.
You will be surprised they will love it and inculcate the habit of consuming such meals in the future.
Parents, you will be doing a lot of good for your children if you teach them about the need to consume healthier food options rather than indulging them in soft drinks and the likes all the time.
I am not saying children should not some baked snacks and the rest, however, there is a need to introduce to them healthier food options.
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