| As parents, today, we face an uphill battle in trying to | | | | It is very important to make sure that everyone in the |
| get our children to eat healthily. There are so many | | | | family has the same food to eat at each meal. When |
| temptations out there in terms of television and | | | | you plan a dinner you should use the same ingredients |
| advertising and every which way you look, there are | | | | for everyone and of course, when your child is very |
| new products on the market, aimed at children. | | | | small you can mash up or liquidise the meal for him/her. |
| They're always advertised as colourful and exciting | | | | When they're toddlers introduce finger food so that |
| and very pleasing to the child's eye. But we must give | | | | they get used to feeding themselves. But stick with |
| up on teaching them the life-long benefits of healthy | | | | your plan of everyone eats the same. This will only |
| eating. | | | | change if your child has an allergy to a particular food |
| 1. Start as you mean to go on | | | | type |
| When our baby is born, we are overjoyed with this | | | | 3. Lead By Example |
| beautiful new human being and we treat him/her with | | | | You are your child's first role model. What they see |
| the utmost care. We breast-feed to ensure that they | | | | you do they will mimic. Therefore, it's very important |
| are getting the best start, but we need to continue | | | | that they see you eat healthy foods like fruit, |
| nourishing them with healthy foods after the baby faze | | | | vegetables, yoghurts etc...You should never use |
| is over. | | | | sweets and chocolate as a reward. It sends out a bad |
| We should introduce new foods regularly and if they | | | | message to your child that sweets are the goal when |
| are not received well on the first go then we need to | | | | they do something good and can, perhaps lead to |
| reintroduce them again and again until our child | | | | comfort eating in adult life. |
| becomes accustomed to the taste. It has been found | | | | That is not to say that you can't give your child |
| that it take 10 tastings of particular food to actually | | | | sweets from time to time. It's like everything in life, it's all |
| acclimatise to the taste and texture. Therefore, | | | | about balance. If you give your child good eating habits |
| persistence is key and will in the long run help your child | | | | in childhood, chances are they will remain with them |
| to have a healthy palate. | | | | throughout their lives. |
| 2. Everyone Eats the Same | | | | |