When using the services of a dog trainer years ago, I learned that it wasn’t the dog that needed to be trained. Instead, it was me! That was a turning point in how I handled my dog. This same realization can be a turning point in how you handle your children eating habits. Parents need to be trained to exercise and eat well before they can teach their children to do so. Healthy eating starts at home with mom and dad. When made a normal part of life for the kids, a healthy diet will be carried on successfully and so many of the rising childhood health problems will be reduced.

So many parents need to be trained first, though. Their experiences with junk food have been less than exemplary. And if parents’ health and eating habits are substandard, how can we expect our children to be any different? Healthy eating starts with parents.

So if we as parents are not educated and trained, if we are not exercising and eating balanced meals,how can we encourage healthy eating for our children? A healthy diet begins with the parents, and those healthy eating practices are passed on to the children.

Instead, parents need to be wise about their diets and what they mean for children. There should be a huge responsibility to eat right knowing how closely kids follow and imitate the adults closest to them. Take this responsibility seriously and you’ll begin healthy new habits that will positively impact your family for years to come.

Building healthy eating habits for you and your children means: 1. Becoming an example of healthy living and healthy eating. You should exercise - with and without your children. Choose water instead of soda. Eat what your kids eat - balanced meals that include lots of fruits and veggies. 2. Including water at every meal and limiting soda. Make water a constant option and don’t always keep soda in your refrigerator or pantry. 3. Drinking watered down fruit juice (for less sugar) and whole organic milk. Both offer great nutrients for your growing kids. 4. Putting a halt to the use of sugar and junk food as a reward for good behavior. Try to use fruits and vegetables in a fun way instead. Don’t make sweets a regular presence in your house. 5. Eating often. This doesn’t sound right, but it is! Eating many small stacks is actually better for you than eating three big meals. Eating small snacks throughout the day between a couple of larger meals keeps portions small and provides more opportunities for a variety of healthy foods. 6. Offering a protein, carbohydrate and colorful vegetables at most meals. Be sure to include great choices like: fish, chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, rice, pasta, bread, toast, broccoli, peas, cauliflower, or peppers. Encourage children to eat plenty of these diverse meals without overeating. 7. Taking time as a family to walk and talk and be involved in each others lives. Make physical activity the norm in your family life and it won’t be a “chore” anymore. 8. Limiting your children time with television and video games. Provide them with activities that will be fun and might burn off some energy at the same time. Encourage them to come up with their own activities and some for the whole family, too. 9. Showing your children what healthy foods are - in all their wide variety. Healthy eating provides a great opportunity for getting your kids to try new things. There are so many tasty, natural options out there that can be brought to the table in a lot of fun ways. Be creative! 10.Keeping in mind that any time is a good time to eat healthy. You can start eating healthy whenever you want - just start! Your family will thank you for it.

Share This