Elementary school provides children with one of their first opportunities to make decisions about the types of food they want to eat. Although many kids might be tempted to select less-than-healthy foods, educating your child about nutrition and involving him in the food selection process can encourage him to make healthier food choices. Well-balanced snacks and meals can help enhance his overall health and protect him from obesity and food-related illnesses, like diabetes and heart disease.
Nutrition at Home
Bringing your child along when grocery shopping---and including her in family meal planning---can educate her about healthy eating and give her a model of healthy eating that she can follow throughout her life. Encourage your child to read labels when shopping at the grocery store. Serve as a healthy eating role model---don't buy anything for yourself that you don't want your child to eat. Since kids are often more likely to eat foods they help make, give her an age-appropriate role in the dinner preparation process, such as setting the table or making a salad.
Nutrition at School
Although many school cafeterias are trying to provide children with healthier choices, many still regularly serve fried or fatty foods. They might also offer "extras" like sugary drinks, ice cream or cookies. Look over the school cafeteria menu together, and help him choose nutritious meals that contain fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and dairy. Allow him to splurge occasionally on favorites like hot dogs or pizza so he doesn't feel deprived. The KidsHealth from Nemours website suggests encouraging him to pack his own lunch at least once a week so that you can better control his midday nutrition.
Considerations
Limit your elementary school child's TV and computer time to one to two hours a day, recommends the American Academy of Pediatrics. Too much time spent sedentary in front of the TV can lead to obesity since it cuts into the time spent participating in active play. Elementary school children are also vulnerable to commercials advertising unhealthy fare, like sugary breakfast cereals and fast food. MayoClinic.com recommends turning off the TV during meal or snack times to eliminate distractions and allow your family to focus on each other. They further caution that mindless snacking in front of the TV can lead to overeating.
Prevention/Solution
Stocking your cabinets with healthier fare, including whole-grain snacks and breads, pre-cut fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy products, can ensure your child chooses nutritious foods when packing her lunches or selecting a snack. KidsHealth from Nemours suggests giving your child input into the process by allowing her to select what---and how much---she wants to eat from the healthy fare available. Although this might initially seem like a bit too much freedom, she will be making her choices from healthy, parent-approved foods.
Potential
Teaching your child about healthy eating and nutrition while he is young can help him make wiser choices as he grows into his pre-teen and teen years, when peer pressure often starts to dictate many of his food choices. Children develop likes and dislikes at a very young age, so exposing your child to a variety of well-balanced foods early on can make him more willing to try these foods as a teen or young adult.
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