The importance of teaching your children at a young age about the importance of nutrition cannot be underestimated. Most eating habits that a person develops as a child will follow them for life. Parents are the people that are the most responsible for teaching their children about a healthy diet. During this time of social distancing, you can put more time into meal prep making it far healthier. There are going to be those foods that your children won’t like and that is perfectly fine. Their tastes will develop with time but put stress on snacking on fruits and vegetables. The following are tips to help your children learn about eating in a healthy manner.
School Can Be a Huge Help
If your child is in an infant child care center you need to make sure that they are eating healthy. You want others to reinforce healthy eating as it can work wonders. The added fact that if you pick up your children loaded up on sugar, the rest of your day will be difficult, to say the least. Snacks should include whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Carrots and peanut butter is a great snack that contains protein, carbs, and important vitamins. A favorite teacher might get a very different response than you would if you provided healthy snacks at home.
Get Them Involved in Cooking Somehow
Small children should not be helping cook unless they are helping with a simple task. Older children can help prep or even do something as simple as put a flatbread together. Whole grain flatbreads can be very similar to a pizza and you do not have to overload them with cheese. Teens should learn how to cook and will be grateful down the line that they know how to. Start out simple and do not get frustrated as this can scare them away from the kitchen for an extended period.
Start a Garden
Starting a garden can be a great interactive way to get your children to eat healthily. A child is much more likely to enjoy tomatoes that they took care of and grew. Taking them to the grocery store can act as a motivator when they see how great what they are growing will look. Starting an herb garden can allow you to get creative with recipes whether you are growing cilantro or basil. You would be surprised the pride your children take in what they have grown.
As you can see, there are a number of ways to help reinforce healthy eating. Cooking daily is not required as with all of the delivery options, you will surely be able to find something healthy. Do not settle for fast food as although it is convenient, it is not something your children should become dependent on. Start by teaching them young and it will not be a struggle to get them to eat a healthy diet down the road. It is something that will follow them for a lifetime.