Families today have busy schedules and it makes it hard to sit down to homemade meals every day. Many kids’ diets involve a lot of convenience and takeout food. But these foods can be unhealthy and can have a negative effect on your child’s health. Some of the problems unhealthy eating causes can continue into adulthood. They can even develop into lifelong diseases.
Healthful eating has many benefits for children. It can:
– Stabilize their energy.
– Improve their minds.
– Even out their moods.
– Help them maintain a healthy weight.
– Help prevent mental health conditions. These include depression, anxiety, and ADHD.
Having a healthy diet and focusing on nutrition are some of the simplest and most important ways to prevent disease. Healthy eating can help prevent obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. Around half of all Americans have one or more of these illnesses.
Healthy eating habits are more likely to stay with you if you learn them as a child. That’s why it’s important that you teach your children good habits now, so it will help them stick with it as they get older.
Tips For Nutrition For Your Kids
1. Start with breakfast
Eating a balanced breakfast with protein is a great way for your child to start their day. Protein can also help them stay fuller longer.
2. Make mealtimes a priority
Sitting down at the table as a family is an important part of establishing healthy eating habits. But it’s more than just eating together, its a time to talk with your kids and monitor their eating.
3. Get kids involved
Have your kids help you shop for groceries and choose foods to eat. Teach them how to read a food label so they know the nutrition in the foods they’re choosing. They can also help fix meals and take some ownership in what they’re eating.
4. Make small shifts to healthier foods
You don’t have to overhaul your entire meal plan. Just find a few alternatives to unhealthy items in your fridge or pantry. Slowly start adding in more until you’ve adopted healthier food choices. Examples of easy swaps to make include:
Instead of This:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Try This Instead:
Whole Milk                                 Low-Fat Milk
Soda                                       Water or Flavored Water                      Â
White Bread                                Whole Wheat Bread
Ice Cream                                  Homemade Smoothie
Butter                                      Olive Oil
Potato Chips                                Bake Chips or Nuts
