When you have a baby, it is entirely dependent upon you to feed them foods that are good for them. You are the one that determines their early eating habits. As they grow, you begin to let them make their own food choices. However, your children are prone to making bad food habits which are detrimental for child development. Here are ways to counter it.
1. When left to themselves, children often don’t eat a balanced diet, which is one bad food habit you may be able to help them change. Children would likely choose to eat more foods from the smallest portion on a standard food pyramid than they do fruits and vegetables.
What is in the pinnacle of the pyramid? Usually foods such as snack cakes, potato chips, and other high-calorie, high-fat foods. As a parent, you can choose what foods come into your home by what you purchase at the grocery store. Instead of snack foods, buy fresh produce that you can wash and have available for snacks. This will help not only your teen, but also everyone else in the home to develop better eating habits.
2. Many toddlers tend to sleep in as much as possible and then skip breakfast, which is a bad habit also. Since the body has been without food during sleep, it’s important to begin the day with a healthy breakfast. To ensure they eat a good serving of breakfast each day, make the food easily accessible so they can make breakfast quickly and eat it before leaving for school.
3. Another bad food habit is drinking too many soft drinks each day. It used to be that they would drink juice, water, or milk. Nowadays, they consume far too many soft drinks, increasing from 37% in 1978 to well over 50% in the late 1990s. Having other beverages available and not buying soft drinks to drink at home will encourage the breaking of this habit.
4. Eating while watching television is also a no-no. This can distract children to the point where they’re not aware of how much they’re actually eating. Good nutrition is important to maintain health, give energy to accomplish goals, and live a fulfilled life.
