Young children are impressionable and often adopt the eating habits that they see by watching their parents eat. Modeling healthy eating habits shows your child what types of food to eat, as well as what foods to eat only as occasional treats. There are many important reasons to start teaching your young child about healthy eating because these lessons can last a lifetime.
Promotes Healthy Growth and Development
Your young child needs many different nutrient-dense foods in order to continue growing and developing normally. Feeding your child a variety of nutritious foods will help ensure that she consumes the vitamins and minerals she needs. Offering your child fruits, vegetables, whole grains, milk, cheese and lean meat and proteins will ensure that she gets enough protein for healthy muscle development, as well as calcium for strong bones and teeth.
Helps Develop Food Preferences
Your child learns to enjoy the foods that he is offered on a regular basis so it is important to offer the most nutritious foods possible. KidsHealth notes that food preferences are developed at a very early age so offering your child many healthy foods builds a taste for foods that are good for them. Serve many types of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grain bread, oatmeal and low-fat milk and he will learn to prefer these foods over sweets, soda and fried foods.
Helps Reduce Obesity Risk
Children who eat high-fat foods, such as french fries and cookies, are more likely to gain an unhealthy amount of weight. Healthy Children notes that about one in three children are overweight or obese, which suggests that the foods children eat play a huge role in their health. Teaching your child from a young age to eat plenty of nutritious foods helps her keep her weight in the healthy range. Offering healthy foods also sends the message to your child about what foods are important for weight control, as well as what a normal portion size looks like.
Improves Other Areas of Health
If your child eats healthy foods on a regular basis, she is also more likely to adopt other healthy lifestyle habits. Children who eat nutritious foods every day are also more likely to be physically active, which helps promote normal weight and good health. If your child eats nutritious foods, she may also watch less television and play fewer video games. Your child may also drink less soda and eat less fatty and sugary snacks.
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