Parenting is a delightful challenges many of us face in life.
It's not always easy to know what to do to bring up a healthy,
well-balanced child, nor how to develop healthy eating habits in
your child. Your child is constantly enticed towards foods that
are appealing and not necessarily nutritious. With the rising
problem of obesity in younger Australians here are some simple
steps to consider if your child is overweight.
Encourage healthy eating habits
1. Buy and serve more fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, or
canned). Let your child choose them at the store.
2. Buy fewer soft drinks and high fat/high calorie snack foods
like chips, cookies, and lollies. These snacks are okay once in
a while, but keep healthy snack foods on hand too and offer them
to your child more often.
3. Eat breakfast every day. Skipping breakfast can leave your
child hungry, tired, and looking for less healthy foods later in
the day.
4. Plan healthy meals and eat together as a family. Eating
together at meal times helps children learn to enjoy a variety
of foods.
5. Eat fast food less often. When you visit a fast food
restaurant, try the healthful options offered.
6. Offer your child water or low-fat milk more often than fruit
juice. Fruit juice is a healthy choice but is high in calories.
7. Do not get discouraged if your child will not eat a new food
the first time it is served. Some kids will need to have a new
food served to them 10 times or more before they will eat it.
8. Try not to use food as a reward when encouraging kids to eat.
Promising dessert to a child for eating vegetables, for example,
sends the message that vegetables are less valuable than
dessert. Kids learn to dislike foods they think are less
valuable.
9. Start with small servings and let your child ask for more if
he or she is still hungry. It is up to you to provide your child
with healthy meals and snacks, but your child should be allowed
to choose how much food he or she will eat.
About the author:
Kim Beardsmore M.B.A. (H.R.M.), B.Sc. (Biochemistry) is a
Herbalife distributor, weight loss coach &creator of the online
weight loss & health magazine Weight Loss Health
http://weight-loss-health.com.au Your online Herbalife store at
http://weightlosshealth.herbalcoach.com Learn about the work at
home Herbalife business opportunity at
http://free2liv.com
