How to Encourage Kids to Eat Healthily
When it comes to mealtimes, many parents find themselves in a constant battle to ensure their children eat nutritious and balanced meals. In a recent survey conducted by the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, it was revealed that 3 in 5 parents make separate meals for their children if they don’t like what is being offered to the rest of the family.
This approach, however, is a cause for concern among experts. Dr. Susan Woolford, Mott Poll co-director, highlights that these alternative options are often not as healthy as the family meal. It is crucial to establish healthy eating patterns during a child’s early years, as this forms the foundation for their dietary habits later in life.
So, how can parents encourage their children to eat a varied and nutritious diet without compromising their health?
Introducing New Foods:
Children are naturally resistant to new and unfamiliar foods. However, this doesn’t mean parents should give up on getting their children to eat vegetables. Dr. Woolford recommends incorporating vegetables into meals and persistently encouraging children to try new foods. Research suggests that it can take up to 20 exposures for a child to become accepting of a new food.
Natalie Mokari, a dietitian, suggests engaging children’s senses to familiarize them with new foods. By asking questions regarding the food’s smell, texture, and color, parents can make the eating experience more interactive and exciting.
Involving Children in the Process:
Another strategy to encourage healthy eating is involving children in choosing vegetables at the grocery store and helping prepare meals. This way, children become more invested in the food they are going to consume and may be more willing to try it.
Avoid Using Food as a Reward or Punishment:
Connecting dessert to finishing dinner can create a negative cycle where children begin to view sweets as preferable to healthier options. Instead, dietitians recommend offering dessert occasionally, unrelated to the consumption of other foods.
Individual Choice and Control:
Dr. Woolford advises parents to adopt the philosophy of providing food options and allowing children to decide. For example, if a child dislikes Brussels sprouts but enjoys salad, they can choose the salad instead. By doing so, children feel empowered and more inclined to make healthier choices.
Looking Ahead at Future Trends:
The topic of encouraging healthy eating habits in children aligns with current trends and events surrounding childhood obesity prevention and treatment. With the rise in childhood obesity rates globally, it is clear that efforts to improve children’s diets are crucial.
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