Teaching your child healthy eating habits is a two-fold process, according to Cigna Healthcare. As a parent, your job is to set the eating schedule and provide healthy food options. Then it's up to your child to decide what and how much of what's on offer he wants to eat. Helping your child develop healthy eating habits reduces his risk for obesity and obesity-related health problems like diabetes, arthritis and heart disease, as well as bolstering his immune system so that he'll be less likely to get sick and more likely to recover quickly when he does, according to Cigna.
Step 1
Involve your kids in planning meals by asking their input when you're shopping -- "Should we get apples or pears?" -- or inviting them into the kitchen to help prepare simple recipes. According to PBS Parents, kids are more likely eat healthy foods when they are involved in the process of choosing them.
Step 2
Limit the number of unhealthy snack options in your house, and stock up on healthy snacks like whole grain crackers, fresh or dried fruits and vegetables, low-fat cheese and yogurt. Keep on hand a few proteins like sliced turkey or peanut butter, recommends KidsHealth.org, an online parenting and health information resource maintained by the Nemours Foundation.
Step 3
Resist the urge to pressure your child to eat more or to try a new food, recommends Cigna. Doing so can actually make your child less likely to try new foods and eat healthy foods, and pressuring a child to "clean your plate" can instill a habit of overeating that will last well into adulthood.
Step 4
Be a healthy eating role model for your kids by making healthy meal choices yourself, recommends KidsHealth.org. Talk to your child about your choices -- say something like "This is delicious, but I'm full so I'm going to stop eating" or "I don't always like eggplant, but this recipe tastes really good."
Step 5
Let your kids make choices about what they want to eat. PBS Parents recommends making some meals do-it-yourself, like a taco bar or pasta bar, and setting out several options for your kids to choose from so that they can customize the meal.
Step 6
Try again later if your child rejects a particular food. According to PBS Parents, children may need up to 10 exposures to a new food before they're willing to try it, so continue to offer new fruits and vegetables in your menus even after your child has said she doesn't like them.
Step 7
Eat together as a family at a scheduled mealtime. According to KidsHealth.org, regular family meals are one of the best ways to ensure that your child eats a healthy variety of foods.
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