| Secret Parenting Tips on How to Teach Your Kid to | | | | the 5th grade the anticipation of "being in charge" of |
| be Healthy As parents, I think we can agree that when | | | | our own lunch made us really want to do it. It was a |
| it comes to encouraging kids to make healthy choices, | | | | win-win because we felt grown-up and Mom didn't |
| it's not an easy task. So what's a parent to do? It | | | | have to pack lunch! 3) Involve your children in making |
| begins by creating healthy choices without being too | | | | the grocery-shopping list. Explain that they are allowed |
| obvious about it. After all, for many kids if you say the | | | | to choose one "treat" and beside that they have to |
| word healthy, they'll turn up their nose in disgust! It isn't | | | | choose their fruit, yogurt, bread, cereal and type of |
| uncommon for kids to push aside healthy options for | | | | lunchmeat they want. And they can use these foods |
| the "fun" food, which is heavily promoted through | | | | to pack their own lunch! On the refrigerator we always |
| television. "If I don't buy the food they like, they won't | | | | had a pad of paper with the grocery list. I remember |
| eat anything!" is a common myth among parents. The | | | | being able to write down one treat I wanted every |
| reality is if they get hungry enough, they will eat. You | | | | week as well as what flavored yogurt, lunchmeat and |
| have never heard of a child starving to death because | | | | fruit that I wanted for my school lunch. I was given the |
| his mother refused to feed him "junk food", have you? | | | | responsibility of making food decisions for myself, |
| Children will choose to eat healthy food. It's a process | | | | which definitely helped me develop into a responsible |
| that takes time and creativity. There are plenty of | | | | adult. 4) Make physical activity a part of your family's |
| healthy foods that your kids can learn to enjoy. It's | | | | routine Be active yourself and share your activity with |
| simply a matter of making gradual changes and | | | | your kids. You can play with them, such as football, |
| allowing their taste buds to adjust to the changes. Kids | | | | cycling, skating, and swimming or take family walks |
| are used to eating foods high sodium and fat, and | | | | and hikes. Being more active as a family will improve |
| need to adjust to eating new healthier foods. This | | | | physical and emotional health. Help your kids to find |
| process takes awhile. Making small changes to the | | | | activities that they enjoy by showing them different |
| normal routine is key. Follow these tips to help your | | | | possibilities. During the summer it was a tradition for my |
| child make healthy choices that will last a lifetime. 1) | | | | family to go for a bike ride every Friday night after |
| Have healthy foods ready and easy to grab in the | | | | dinner. We would sing songs and plan games together; |
| kitchen. Stock your kitchen with fruits, vegetables, | | | | sometimes we would be having so much fun that we |
| complex starches, yogurt and lean protein. By default | | | | would be out riding until 11pm. I also remember my |
| you are changing your child's food choices simply | | | | parents using it as a disciplinary tactic, if we didn't clean |
| because your are limiting the availability of "junk food" | | | | our rooms that week we would not be able to ride out |
| and increasing the availability of "healthy foods". Kids | | | | bike in the street with them. 5) Have your entire family |
| need an after school snack. I remember my Mom | | | | take part in preparing/planning family meals. The more |
| always having pre-portioned snacks ready for us and | | | | your kids can participate in family meals, the better |
| as kids my sister and I always looked forward to our | | | | choices they will be willing to make. Healthy eating is a |
| after school snack of the day, it was a treat and a | | | | family project and everyone should get involved. You |
| way for our family to bond. Try having these healthy | | | | can begin by choosing one night a week where the |
| and easy snacks ready for your kids. A smoothie with | | | | entire family can come together and prepare and eat |
| yogurt and fruit, baked tortilla chips and salsa, sliced | | | | together. Before our bike rides on Friday we would |
| apple with peanut butter, string cheese and crackers, | | | | have a family dinner night. Often the meal of choice |
| yogurt with granola or salt-less pretzels with peanuts. | | | | was pizza. Together we would make a homemade |
| 2) Put your kids in charge of packing their own lunch. | | | | pizza with pepperoni and vegetables that we would |
| Make a rule that when your kid enters 5th grade they | | | | strategically place on the pizza. Sometimes we would |
| are responsible for making their own lunch and can | | | | create a model of our house, we each were able to |
| pack anything they want as long as they pack food | | | | make our bedrooms and come together as a family to |
| from all of the food groups. This was the strategy that | | | | the living room and kitchen. |
| my Mother used. By the time my sister and I were in | | | | More articles from this pro: E. |