The parental influence on a child’s diet is considerable. From the time children are born, parents have the opportunity to decide what to feed them. As children get older, however, their friends also play a role in what children start to consume. Fortunately, there are ways parents can retain their influence on their children’s eating habits as they get older.
Identification
The Pennsylvania State University Center for Childhood Obesity Research states that the first years of a child’s life are a time of rapid development and transitioning from a milk diet to one that involves all five food groups. The Center reports that parents have a powerful influence on their children’s diet by providing them both their genes and the types of available foods they can eat on a regular basis.
Considerations
The Kids Health website recommends having regular family meals to be able to influence your children’s dietary habits on a daily basis. Kids Health reports that children who eat regular family meals are more likely to eat grains, fruits and vegetables, are less likely to eat unhealthy food, such as snack items, or to use marijuana, drink alcohol or smoke. Family meals also provide parents the opportunity to serve as role models of healthy dietary habits. Kids Health recommends making mealtimes calm (without arguments or lectures), involving older children in meal preparation and enabling children to have friends over for dinner to make family meals more enjoyable.
Additional Suggestions
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends that parents use their influence on their children’s diet wisely by serving children fruit or vegetables at each meal. The site also suggests making it easy for children to choose healthy snacks by keeping these foods and low-fat yogurt, whole-grain crackers and peanut butter readily available for them. NIH also recommends that parents limit the amount of sodas and sugary drinks they offer to their children and to substitute these beverages with low-fat milk and water instead. Parents can additionally serve as good role models of healthy eating by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and not overindulging in sweets and fatty foods. Parents can also be good role models of healthy eating by not overeating and serving children appropriate food portions.
Benefits
The NIH reports that by using their influence on their children’s diet wisely, parents can help children grow strong and healthy, learn more easily, have energy, get enough nutrients and maintain a healthy weight.
Warning
Parents should not forget the influence the child’s school environment has on her dietary habits. Check to see if your child’s school offers healthy lunch options. If it does not, you should pack your child's lunches instead.
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