Everyone can benefit from learning more about proper nutrition, but children need special attention so that they can develop good habits and healthy lifestyles. Show your children how to make good food choices and how to avoid unhealthy, high-calorie foods. If you're not sure which types of foods are best, ask your pediatrician to help you design a healthy diet.
Basic Nutrition
Children require a nutritious diet to maintain a healthy weight, develop and grow. Teach your children which types of foods are healthy for them. No matter how much they might enjoy junk food, children must learn to minimize sugary treats, fried foods and other unhealthy items in their diets. Healthy snack options include fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds. For their regular meals, use low-fat dairy products and lean meats. If you consistently show your children how to eat healthfully, they will internalize the message and continue with their healthy diet when they are on their own.
Nutrition Labels
Sooner or later, your children are going to have to make nutrition decisions by themselves. Teach them how to find the nutrition label and what information to look for on it. For example, if you're concerned about sugar intake, bring your children to a supermarket and show them how to choose the items that have the least amount of sugar. Also, show your children how to interpret the serving size on a nutrition label. Many food products contain multiple servings, and your child should be able to recognize that the nutrition information must be multiplied by the number of servings the package contains.
Programs
Enroll your children in school and community programs that promote good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. For example, some communities have public health classes geared toward children. These programs teach children how to evaluate their food choices and improve their health. If you don't have any such classes in your area, use online resources from reputable public health groups and dietary advisory organizations. Use the suggestions from these experts to present nutrition to your children in a fun and informative way.
Negative Messages
Manufacturers of unhealthy food products often use colorful imagery and prizes to entice children to buy their products. Teach your children to recognize when a product's advertisement or packaging is manipulating them. While this may not seem necessary when you are doing the shopping, as they age and start buying food for themselves, they will be increasingly vulnerable to misleading advertising if you don't educate them.
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