Bad Eating Habits Passed On To Children

Although parents contribute to children's bad eating habits, they cannot shoulder all the blame, according to Youfa Wang, an associate professor with the Bloomberg School's Department of International Health. In a study Wang led published in the December 2010 issue of the "Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health," Wang found a weak relationship between parent's influence and children's diet. However, he adds that parents need to be empowered to be better role models so their children develop healthy eating habits.

Overeating

Consuming too many calories is one of the reasons your child becomes overweight or obese. When your child is obese, he is more at risk for conditions such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. A study published in the "Journal of Pediatrics" in September 2006 revealed that children of mothers who were obese were more likely to respond to their mothers' prompts to eat than children whose mothers weren't obese. The researchers concluded that children with obese mothers were more sensitive to environmental cues to eat.

Low Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

If your child turns her nose up at broccoli or bananas, you may be unwittingly contributing to her dislike of these healthy foods. In a study published in the "Health Education Research" journal in April 2001, a team of American researchers found that when parents consumed fruits and vegetables, children were more likely to. Also, having these foods readily available also made it more likely children would eat them. Let your child see you eating more fruits and veggies, add them to every meal and keep fruits in a bowl in a visible area.

The Three Things You Should Never Do

Even if you're eager to eliminate the bad eating habits passed on to your child, don't start labeling foods as "bad" or "good." This approach may cause your child to develop guilt or shame about eating certain foods. Also, don't completely eliminate junk food or sugary snacks if your child is already used to eating these foods. He may simply indulge in them behind your back at school or when out with friends. Never use food as a reward or punishment.

Breaking Your Child's Bad Eating Habits

To lure your child away from fatty, sugary foods, change your shopping habits. Buy nutritious foods such as whole-grain products, fruits, vegetables, lean meat, low-fat dairy and nuts and seeds. Use healthy cooking methods such as grilling, baking or steaming instead of deep-frying. Make freshly-squeezed juice at home or buy juices without added sugar. As much as possible, include a nutritious snack with your child's lunch. Sometimes children may feel left out or that they will be ridiculed if they don't have junk food snacks. If that's your child's case, include one of each type of snack.