Over the years I have tried to be a good role model for myself as well my children. Ever since my children were little I always insisted they sit down to a healthy nutritious meal.
As children, we learn from an early age what we can get away with and what we can’t. I believe lots of bad habits set in and before we know it we have children that won’t sit at the table and when they do, play around with their food on their plates to make it look as if they’ve eaten what was put on their plate.
As parents, we are their role models. If we eat a healthy and balanced diet, the odds are so will our children. But even if our children eventually decide to choose a different path long after they are grown, they will have had the foundations to make more informed, better choices.
So how do we go about doing it?
Introducing children to good wholesome (non-processed) food early on in their life contributes to good thoughts on healthy eating. As parents we should be offering fruit and vegetables with meals, or fruit and vegetables as a snack during the day. We also need to reduce foods that contain refined sugars that do nothing but add calories; without any solid nutritional value.
Breakfast is also important for children. It sets them up for the day by balancing blood sugar levels, which help with energy and concentration. I believe it's important for children to have a nutritious snack mid morning between breakfast and lunch and then again between lunch and dinner, but what they eat should be healthy.
Balancing a child's blood sugar level, is just as important as it is for an adult. We of course need to continue to be involved in what our children eat, without leaving it to other family members or even institutions. Many working parents don’t always have time to sit with their children and instil important values at mealtimes. I believe as parents we play a pivotal role and should try to instil good habits, regardless of work commitments.
It's easy to help children make good choices based around foods and meal times, as long as parents are doing exactly that. We need to continue to be good role models for ourselves too, so that our children will eventually do the same.
Very good information. I agree with all of it.
I did the same with my daughter when she was growing up and today she would rather have something nutritious than processed, if she can eat it.
She has found that a lot of raw vegetables make her mouth itch like an allergic reaction and it really bothers her, because its stuff she wants to eat like a nice salad.
Hopefully she can get to an allergist and figure out what's wrong. As a child she had no problems eating vegetables. My husband and I ate good home cooked meals and so did she.
Thanks Lisa. I know how your daughter feels because of the problems I have with food, it can be very frustrating. Hope she gets to sort her problem out very soon
Obviously the healthier we try and eat the healthier we will be, which will make what we have to deal with easier too.
I completely agree with you here.
Growing up I didn't have any guidance as to how I was supposed to eat or even what was good for me. I was able to sort a lot of that out when I started getting involved into competitive sports and having a great coaching staff who was willing to help everyone sort things out.
Of course food is slightly different for everyone, but I do believe having the right foundation for it is important. If you have that at an earlier age it will be more beneficial and easier for you to carry out out those habits later in life.
Thanks LeAnna. I agree with you totally. I didn't have much guidance myself growing up either as far as nutrition was concerned. I do a lot better now. Sounds like you're doing okay with all the help you got and am pleased about that.
When my brother and I were children we always sat down to a meal at the table.
Our main meal was at dinner time because we were away at school most of the day and our father was working out on the farm. It did help our family keep abreast at what was going on in our lives. I think communication is key to family togetherness. To this day my father will not permit any one to eat in the living room.
I do think this is good because it has taught my nieces and nephew that eating will only be permitted in the kitchen and it tends to open up conversations which make life more interesting.
Randy my family did too. We had our set places at the dinner table and although nutrition wasn't so understood back then, we had fresh meals every day.
I do agree that communication is the key in families and I try to instill that with my family, but I don't think one can ever guarantee family stay close. It's something that needs constantly working at.
Your father instilled some good old-fashioned values for you and your family and I believe some of them work.