Top Healthy Eating Tips for Kids

With cases of childhood obesity on the rise, eating habits of kids have definitely come under the radar of most parents. Here are some ways in which parents can instill healthy eating habits in kids.

Healthy eating as a way of life

Ask your family doctor, and they will probably tell you to make healthy food as a staple in your everyday food, as opposed to making it something that you pack in their lunches every time you read up on health articles. Nutritionists say that this can help kids in adopting healthy eating habits better when compared to using negative connotations to explain the same to them. Making healthy eating a regular practice will make it seem as a natural thing to do, as they will not see it as something that needs effort.

What to pack?

Many a times, kids have a limited lunch times, and packing huge portions of food might leave them overwhelmed. What parents can do is to pack smaller portions, without compromising on the nutrition. Parents need to ensure that kids consume foods from a minimum of four food groups in their meals. Also, parents may want to stay away from packing them treats. It's a no-brainer that kids will reach out to gobble up the treats first, and if they do not find any time or fill themselves up on it, then there is little time or space to eat the nutritious food.

A glass of milk, a cheese slice or a yoghurt tub is essential, in three serves, as their daily dose of calcium. While vegetables and fruits are a given, considering we are talking about healthy foods, whole grains such as peas, lentils and beans should also be included in their diet, alongside proteins. Their diet should include fiber foods, and healthy fats like nut oil, coconut oil and olive oil.

When to eat?

Structured and timed meals are an essential part of healthy eating habits. There has to be a 2-3 hour gap between meals else digestion of food is not facilitated optimally. Having designated times for all the meals will help kids understand that they should be eating at these set times, and not otherwise.

Vegetables and treats

There is a good reason why kids do not enjoy eating vegetables, and would like to switch it up with treats. Vegetables have a bland taste, when compared to sweet treats, and their healthy quotient alone clearly does not strike a home run with kids. Try to see which of these vegetable varieties that they do not mind eating, and offer it cooked or raw, every other day. As far as treats go, you may not want to completely deny them of these either. So long as they are eating their broccoli and other balanced meals on time, you can allow them to indulge on a treat about once or twice a week, whether it is that bag of potato crisps or some chocolate.

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