Help Your Child Eat HealthyA list of things that a parent should take care of when serving meals so that

children can maintain a healthy weight and normal growth

It is very important to keep a track of what children eat these days especially

considering the rate of obesity seen across the globe. The most vital aspect of healthy

eating is portion control and cutting down on fatty foods. Given below is a list of things

that a parent should take care of when serving meals so that children can maintain a

healthy weight and normal growth.

1. Let your little one consume low-fat dairy products, lean meat, whole grain breads,

and cereals, eventually cutting down the intake of sugar sweetened drinks and

salt.

2. Avoid giving whole nuts to children under the age of 5, they may choke on them.

However, it is okay to have peanut butter and chopped nuts on condition that

they aren’t allergic.

3. Do not dictate foods instead implement them yourself to see the change in your

child. Thus, share mealtimes and have the same healthy foods.

4. Ask your child to eat as slowly as possible.

5. Since your toddler attends preschool make sure you know what their nursery

meal program is if you don’t find it healthy enough you can always pack it

yourself.

6. If tinned food is being served make sure you have read the food labels

thoroughly.

7. Substitute junk food with as many fruits and vegetables you can.

8. Similarly, toddlers should be fed more water because over eating and excess

consumption of sweetened drinks and sodas may spoil the teeth and of course

add to the weight.

9. Plan a munching time. Continuous noshing may lead to overindulgence and thus

add to the weight. Nevertheless, when your child is hungry in between meals

serve fruits, raw vegetables, low-fat biscuits, yogurt, etc.

10.A child’s eating habits should involve eating

meals together as a family. Encourage this by

talking pleasantly and not about school or

homework. If the conversation turns out to be

distasteful, children may try to eat quickly so

as to leave the table.

11. Involve your children in shopping for groceries and preparing meals. When you

do so you will get a sneak peek into what your children like and dislike. In return,

you will get to know how they like their veggies to be served. Additionally, it will

give you a chance to teach them about nutritional foods and their importance.

12.Last, but not the least at no time will you serve food as a bribe i.e. do not punish

or reward with food. If you hold back food as a punishment children will try and

eat as much as they can while they get food. Likewise, when desserts and

sweets are served for being good, children will attach more value to these than

healthy foods. This way, you will be giving a very wrong message about

vegetables and fruits. So, don’t do it.