Healthy children grow into healthy adults. Eating habits developed in childhood become part of a child’s health regime later on in life. Children are bombarded with advertisements daily. Many of those advertisements are for sugar-laded unhealthy foods. As parents, I imagine it would be difficult to shield your children from the 1000’s of weekly ads they see and hear.
Talking to children about what healthy foods are and making vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts and lean meats readily available is part of expanding your child’s food palate. As an educator, I see children bring what I view as non-foods daily as snacks and lunches. Instead of sending sugar treats send cut up fruits. Parents and caregivers are rock stars in their children’s eyes, what you eat your children will want to eat. Eating healthy foods will showcase to your children what healthy eating looks like.
Regular exercise is important to establish in childhood. Walking, going to the park, neighborhood gym, skating, child & parent classes are all ways to get exercise with your children. The key to exercise is make it fun and enjoyable. Remember healthy children can grow into healthy adults, so be sure to eat healthy foods in front of children and get moving with them.
