Sometimes kids have picked up bad eating habits and we say to ourselves, where did they come from? Often they have come from the parents. Children can be taught to eat a healthy diet at a young age. Fruits and vegetables should be a part of children’s diet along with drinking water. In the beginning the child might resist but if you are persistent you will eventually win the battle. You have to be the one to teach them because if you don’t the food companies with their fancy advertisements will and who wants that?
Sugary cereals should not be included in a child’s breakfast. Eating junkie cereals are a beginning of a child’s addiction for junk food. Let’s face it, if you are eating sugary foods for breakfast is not getting them off to a good start health wise.
If you don’t buy it they cannot get it at your house. The reason I say this is because just because you are not buying it doesn’t mean that they are not getting it. Many times grandparents will buy what you won’t. Don’t worry. It won’t ruin your child’s decisions on making the right food choices. I know because I was one of those kids who asked their grandparents to buy the junkie cereals because my parents wouldn’t and I make good food choices.
You still may want to tell your parents about the importance of eating a healthy diet and why you aren’t buying that junk for your children. I believe it is important so the grandparents won’t feel like you are depriving them.
Oatmeal and cream of wheat are excellent for breakfast because it is warm and it stays with them. Pancakes and waffles are good too. It is better to make it from scratch but you can purchase a mix called Arrowhead Mills at your local health food store.
When you reward your children for good behavior or good grades or whatever the occasion may be it doesn’t have to be with sweet candy. Popcorn is a nice healthy snack that can be used as an alternative. Peanuts, sunflower seeds, and sesame seed sticks are also good choices.
When kids see other kids eating healthy they too follow suit. When I was little my cousin had come over to play with my siblings and I, and he stayed and ate dinner with us. When his father came to pick him up he noticed that he was eating salad. When he saw him eating the salad he said, “You don’t eat salad”. My cousin replied, “ I like the salad dressing”. I do believe since he saw all of us kids eating it he thought he might try it himself realizing he did like it with that particular salad dressing which was Viva Italian.
Reading the labels can also be very helpful to make sure your child isn’t getting too much intake of sugar. It’s not like it used to be a long time ago where sugar was mostly in desserts. Now, it is in food that we eat every single day.
I’m not saying that a child shouldn’t eat any junk food. I just don’t think that it shouldn’t be eaten every single day. Everything a child eats doesn’t have to be sweet. Remember, children imitate their parents. So, let’s teach them to make good food choices that can last them a lifetime and they too can pass it down to their children as well.
