I’m pleased to share the amazing expertise of Sue Adair. As the Director of Education at Goddard Systems, Inc., she has some very helpful advice for teaching our little ones healthy eating habits.
The topic of children and healthy eating is on top of mind for many families these days. It’s no secret that obesity in children (and adults) in our country is at an all-time high. In fact, in a recent study, researchers found that almost 1 in 5 American 4-year-olds is obese.
Both at school and at home, it has become crucial to teach children how to eat healthy foods and live a healthier lifestyle. As a parent, you can make a difference by giving your child a solid base from which he/she can make healthy choices for life.
Here are a few tips on how you can help your child grow healthy and strong:
1. Set a good example and reinforce good choices. Children learn from their parents, so it is no surprise that they are likely to mimic your food choices. Be a great healthy-eating role model. If children see others eat healthy foods, their curiosity will be piqued and it will lead them to try new foods.
2. Introduce fruits and vegetables early. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the items I think make the biggest impact. They are nutritionally dense and in season a good buy.
The earlier you introduce children to fruits and vegetables, the more likely they are to enjoy them and to choose them as a healthy snack between meals.
3. All in moderation. If a child receives healthy meals throughout the day it is OK to occasionally allow “fun” snacks. If you withhold fun foods, it may cause cravings that lead children to sneak or hoard non-healthy foods. Just make sure to watch the sugar and salt content of foods as children do not need large amounts of these ingredients in their foods.
4. Mix it up. From fruits and vegetables to lean turkey – encourage your child to eat a variety of foods to help him get the nutrients he needs from every food group. Give your child various textures and consistencies, which not only encourage healthy eating, but also makes the experience more enjoyable and unpredictable.
5. Dairy. Dairy products such as milk and yogurt (or dairy substitutes) are essential for children- they need them grow and strengthen bones.
Simply put, nutrition is important to your child’s overall health. Fostering good nutrition habits helps children maintain a balanced life, not only physically, but also socially and emotionally.
About Sue Adair:
Sue Adair is Director of Education for Goddard Systems, Inc. (GSI), the franchisor of Goddard Schools. As an expert in early childhood development and learning, Sue oversees teacher training and early childhood education programs for 330+ Goddard Schools across the United States. In her 21-year career in early childhood education, Sue has taught multiple age groups ranging from infants to Kindergarten in both private and corporate child care settings, and has seven years experience as a school director including several years at The Goddard School for Early Childhood Development in Blue Bell, PA. You can visit Sue’s blog at: http://blogs.goddardsystems.com/
Tiffany
June 25, 2009That brings a very real perspective to me, because my DS is almost 4. I didn't realize it was such a problem with that young of kids. Very good informative article. Thanks for posting!
The Shopping Mama
June 25, 2009Thank you so much, Sue, for the great tips and advice.
It really feels like a daily struggle to get my son to eat healthy food, but it's worth it to have a happy, healthy kid.
Melissa
June 25, 2009These are great tips. I completely agree with starting kids on fruits and vegetables early. We did that with my son and now some of his favorite foods are veggies.
I am Lee-Ann...
July 1, 2009Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
Debbie
July 1, 2009I like that parents' examples were brought up. I've noticed that my kids are more willing to eat healthy if they see me eating healthy. If I have a big bowl of roasted vegetables, they'll come up and want to share it with me. If Mommy is eating it, they just assume that it's delicious!
Christina
July 1, 2009Thanks for the great tips! I need to remember all these.
Xenia
July 1, 2009Such good tips, I'm going to work on mixing it up more to add variety to our foods. My husband always jokes that our 2-year-old is the healthiest eater in our house, but that's just because we try to always give her good options. And the times that I just can't help but have junk? I sneak into the kitchen and eat it while she's not looking!
Cherry Blossoms
July 3, 2009My daughter is such a picky eater it was really neat to read this article! Thanks!
Rock Star Ma
July 7, 20091 in 5! Wow, that's so sad.
1955nurse
July 10, 2009I loved this article – my Grandson is 20 months old and developing his eating habits. My Son never hesitates to tell about how he & his sister weren't allowed junk food when they were little! Guess it DOES stay w/them!