Children Eating Habits

Eating Habbits in Children Children need to develop good eating habits early in life. Overweight is the most common nutrition problem among American children today, nearly tripling over the past 30 years. Twenty-five to fifty percent of today’s children will become over-weight or obese adults. If children learn to make proper food choices, these statistics can be decreased. CHANGING HABITS Using food as a reward to entice good behavior. 'Behave now and I’ll give you candy later.' This is like saying 'Here is something unhealthy for you as a reward for being good.' This reinforces an emotional link to eating. Treating children with food. 'Bring home a good report card and we’ll go for ice cream.' Eating And Activity Habits Formed Parents play a big role in shaping children's eating habits. When parents eat a variety of foods that are low in fat and sugar and high in fiber, children learn to like these foods as well. Food Tips and Suggestions Children don't eat like adults do: Do you get frustrated when your child wriggles around, talks a lot at the table and stops frequently to play with things or stare out the window. The No Thank You Bite: Having trouble getting your toddler to eat the proper foods? Our child was saved from a lifetime of cereal by the 'No Thank You Bite,' taught to us by a baby-sitter. Vegetables for Our Future Leaders Plain boiled or steamed vegetables can be boring and quite tasteless. Add a touch of excitement by tossing them in just a little oil or butter. Toss in some spices, like black pepper, or a dash of the appropriate herbs. A spoonful of sugar often helps, or a dash of soy sauce. Healthy Eating Habits in Your Kids One of the most important approaches to eating is cutting down on fat intake. Simple ways to accomplish this include eating low-fat or nonfat dairy products, poultry without skin and lean meats, and low-fat or fat-free breads and cereals. Change children's eating habits The Food Dudes are slightly older than the kids targeted in the program, making them believable role models. Prizes like small toys, pencils and pens are also an enticement. Get Kids Involved Most kids will enjoy deciding what to make for dinner. Talk to them about making choices and planning a balanced meal. Some might even want to help shop for ingredients and prepare the meal. At the store, teach kids to check out food labels to begin understanding what to look for. School lunches can be another learning lesson for kids. More important, if you can get them thinking about what they eat for lunch, you might be able to help them make positive changes. Brainstorm about what kinds of foods they'd like for lunch or go to the grocery store to shop together for healthy, packable foods.