Medical Advices Blog

Creating a nutrition house is one of the most important steps you can take to the health of your child’s protection. First, food smart choices, and help your child develop a positive relationship with healthy food.

Your children will learn their food smarts from your example.

Here are the top 10 tips for getting children to healthy food, presented by Melinda Sothern, PhD, co-author of Trim Kids and director of the childhood obesity prevention Laboratory Louisiana State University Food:

1. No restriction of food. Restricting food increases the risk your child may develop eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia later in life. It can be a negative impact on growth and development.
2. Keep healthy foods on hand. Children eat what is readily available. Keep fruit in a bowl on the counter, not buried in the sharper part of your refrigerator. And have an apple for your own snacks. “Your actions scream louder than anything you’ll ever tell them,” says Sothern. Remember, your child can only choose foods that you stock in house.
3. Do foods labeled as “good” or “poor”. Instead, foods to bind to the things your child cares about, like sports or appearance. Let your child know that lean protein like turkey and calcium in dairy products give strength to their sporting achievements. The antioxidants in fruit and vegetables to add luster to the skin and hair.
4. Positive healthy choices. Give your children a proud smile and tell them how smart they are when they choose healthy food.
5. Do not nag about unhealthy choices. When children choose unhealthy food, ignore. Or if your child is always fat, fried foods, alter the choice. You could try roasting potato sticks in the oven (tossed in just a little oil) instead of buying french fries. Or, if your child candy wants, your fresh strawberries dipped in a little chocolate sauce. Too busy ? Then keep naturally sweet dried fruit at home for a quick snack.
6. Never use food as a reward. This could lead to weight problems later in life. Instead, your children rewarded with something physical and fun – maybe a trip to the park or a quick game of catch.
7. Sit on the family dinners at night. If this is not a tradition in your home should be. Research shows that children who eat dinner at the table with their parents have better nutrition and less likely to get into serious problems as teenagers. Start with one night a week, and then work three or four, to gradually build the habit.
8. Plates prepared in the kitchen. There you healthy share of each item on the dinner everyone’s plate. Your children will learn to identify proper portion sizes. And you can your pants fit better!
9. Give the kids some control. Ask your children to take three bites of all the food on their plate and give it a grade, like A, B, C, D or F. When healthy foods – especially certain vegetables – a high score to get, they more often. Gift items that your kids do not like less frequently. This allows your children to participate in the decision. Indeed, dining is a family affair.
10. Consult your pediatrician. Always talk to the doctor for your child before your child on a diet, trying to help your child’s weight, or making any significant changes in the nature of the foods your child eats. Never diagnose your child as too heavy or too thin, by yourself.