| Are you concerned about keeping your child's weight | | | | #5 Encourage children to limit sweet drinks |
| under control? There's no doubt many parents are | | | | Although children have a preference for soft drinks, |
| worried about childhood obesity. | | | | squash, and fruit juices, they are extremely sweet, and |
| So, what should your children be eating? Let's take a | | | | provide practically zero nutritional value. |
| look at 8 key areas: | | | | Try to limit these to special occasions, and serve |
| #1 Encourage children to eat regularly | | | | mainly water or milk. Whole fruit juice is fine at |
| Make sure you're offering 3 meals, and 2-3 healthy | | | | breakfast. |
| snacks every day, from a wide variety of different | | | | #6 Encourage children to reduce their sugar intake |
| healthy foods. | | | | Most kids these days eat excessive amounts of |
| #2 Encourage children to eat fruits and vegetables | | | | sugary foods, such as cookies, candy, and donuts. But, |
| Although some children aren't fussed on fruits and | | | | this type of food is not healthy for children, and should |
| vegetables, they are packed with essential nutrients. | | | | be limited to infrequent treats, and always in smaller |
| So, try serve at least one fruit, or vegetable with each | | | | portions. |
| meal and snack offered. | | | | #7 Encourage children to limit their fast food intake |
| #3 Encourage children to avoid unhealthy breakfast | | | | Fast food does not have to be a way of life for your |
| cereals | | | | children. It contains very little in terms of nutritional |
| While many breakfast cereals are marketed to | | | | content, and a lot of fat, salt, sugar, and calories. |
| children, they are far from suitable. Many breakfast | | | | Teach your children while they are still young how to |
| cereal, cereal bars, and granola bars are so high in | | | | make healthy food choices, rather than filling them with |
| sugar they are no better than a candy bar. | | | | fast food, and setting them on the fast-track to an |
| Instead go for cereals that are whole grain, low sugar, | | | | unhealthy lifestyle. |
| low fat, and low in salt. | | | | #8 Don't encourage children to overeat |
| #4 Encourage children to eat dairy products | | | | Emphasize that they should only eat when they feel |
| Children under 2 years of age should be consuming full | | | | hungry, and stop when they begin to feel full. Also, |
| fat milk. However, above this age, lower fat milk, | | | | never bribe or reward your children with food, such as |
| yoghurt, cheese, and sour cream varieties are suitable. | | | | using dessert as the prize for eating all of their dinner. |