How do you educate children on healthy eating?
Kids aren’t born with a craving for junk food. They’re conditioned to crave it. So the first thing you’ll need to do is eradicate that conditioning by changing their diet via the foods you serve them and the snacks they eat at home and away. But there’s more: The time has come for parents to embrace their role in teaching kids how to care for themselves, including how to cook healthy, inexpensive meals and snacks that taste as good as or better than those full of preservatives.
How do you promote healthy eating in early childhood?
Start by getting kids involved in garden projects like planting seeds or digging up carrots. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of harvesting something you’ve helped grow to make you appreciate the meal you prepare with it.
Working together in the garden is an excellent time to teach kids about where their food comes from, as well as a great opportunity to let them know when they’re making a healthy choice (such as eating broccoli) or indulging in a less healthy one. It can also be a good time to talk about ways to eat mindfully, so that you’re not just gobbling up food during mealtimes but actually conscious of what and how much you’re eating.
What do you do if your child won’t eat vegetables?
If your kids resist eating vegetables, serve them raw with dips made from fresh herbs and olive oil. And if you’re concerned about picky eaters, consider signing your kids up for a weekly CSA (community supported agriculture) box that come with fresh ingredients.
But you don’t have to have a garden to get kids out of the house and involved in food-related activities. Take your child grocery shopping or to a farmers’ market. Kayaking and catch-and-release fishing are excellent ways for kids to be active outdoors without phones or screens getting in the way of their bonding time. Or head down to the bocce courts for some old-fashioned fun.
Nutrition plays a critical role in kids development, it affects kids mental and physical state, want to put your kids on the right nutrition track? here is our full guide to Healthy Eating for Children