| A lot of people struggle with teaching their kids how to | | | | And even welcome, a change of foods might give him |
| eat healthy and stay away from salty, fatty and | | | | an appetite. But don't go straight for McDonalds or |
| sweet snacks. Teaching them a healthy eating pattern | | | | Burger King, if you give them the right example, children |
| shouldn't be very difficult if you respect of the following | | | | do just as well in a healthier alternative. Maybe you |
| set of simple rules: | | | | can use the situation to get to know a little more about |
| 1. Children learn from what they see. | | | | another culture. |
| If all they see around them is people eating potato | | | | 7. Provide healthy snacks |
| chips, burgers, sweets, pies etc... how can they develop | | | | Snacking isn't a bad thing. Provided they don't overeat |
| a taste for healthy food? Maybe it's time to change | | | | at lunch or dinner time. Just see that you have healthy |
| your eating behavior. | | | | snacks available at all time. Some juice (no sugar |
| 2. They decide how much they eat, you decide what's | | | | added), fruit, dried fruit, nuts, a small salad in between |
| put on the table. | | | | might just do the trick. |
| Taking your child grocery shopping might be something | | | | 8. Trust your child |
| to avoid if they have developed a taste for the sweet | | | | Trust upon your child's ability to know when to eat and |
| and the salty. Buy fresh produce, lean meats, fish... | | | | how much they should eat. This might take some |
| 3. Variety, variety, variety!!! | | | | learning on both sides if you have gotten very used to |
| If you only ever bring the same five dishes to the table, | | | | the three meals a day pattern. Mostly, children are |
| they will get bored quickly. Try some exotic fruit, buy | | | | very in touch with their body and can let you know |
| veggies you haven't tried before. If you don't know | | | | what exactly they need, even from very young. |
| how to prepare them, Google it, that's what the | | | | 9. Start early on |
| internet is for. They might even learn something from it! | | | | Learning to eat a variety of healthy foods begins at |
| 4. No forcing! | | | | birth, really. If they see their parents enjoy a good meal, |
| If your child isn't hungry, don't make him eat. Finishing his | | | | enjoy a variety of healthy and wholesome foods, they |
| plate is not necessary, trying a little bit is. Don't worry | | | | most likely will enjoy eating themselves. Remember |
| too much if they are 'getting enough', if they are | | | | that even in utero the fetus tastes what the mother |
| otherwise healthy and happy, they probably are. | | | | eats, so it really begins there. |
| 5. Forget three meals a day | | | | 10. Don't worry too much |
| Let your child eat when he wants, he'll enjoy eating | | | | Your child can pick up on your anxiety and start |
| much more than when he is forced to eat at hours | | | | fearing lunchtime. Eating should be something the |
| that don't suit his biological rhythm. | | | | whole family can enjoy. |
| 6. Eating out is possible | | | | |