A healthy kid is a happy kid. This maxim holds true for time immemorial. However, it has become more of a goal nowadays for parents. Due to the hectic demands of the 21st century, both parents and children are tired at the end of the day, often too tired to have a fight on what to eat and who will cook. They prefer going out to eat, but that is where the error lies.
Going out for a happy meal with the family is great, but it often ends up creating fussy eaters who will not eat homemade, wholesome food anymore. In order to avoid these problems, inculcate healthy eating habits in your children. Not only will they help your kid thrive and grow but also protect them from diseases. In order to teach your children healthy eating habits, you must understand the merits of good eating habits.
Kids who have healthy eating habits get sufficient nutrition from homemade, healthy food and bloom in daily life. Not only do they hit their daily intake of necessary vitamins and minerals but also maintain a healthy weight and grow fast.
Children who develop healthy eating habits and hit their daily quota of vitamins A, B12, C, D, E, K, calcium, iron, and folate intake, and drink lots of water, are bound to improve their eye health while having great skin, strong teeth and lush hair.
Parents should feed their children green leafy vegetables, fish, meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy to help build their strength, both inside and out. While calcium and vitamin D strengthen the bones, the muscles get help from proteins, amino acids, and antioxidants.
A well-nourished kid will do far better than a kid who lacks nutrition and is distracted by hunger and cravings. Food does far more for thoughts and ideas than words. And it also provides their brain with a much-needed natural energy boost for difficult classes in school after recess.
Children who develop good eating habits and are introduced to new foods in infancy develop a more open-minded approach to new food and might not develop antibodies to certain food groups, which cause food allergies later in life.
The digestive system is mostly overloaded with work throughout the day. Since kids nowadays consume a lot of junk food, it is forever working overtime. If your kid has healthy eating habits, they are probably doing their digestive system a huge favor and improving their metabolism.
Since the merits of good food habits are highlighted, parents must now ensure their children imbibe the following healthy eating habits.
The bane of healthy eating habits is fast food. Not only do the latter lack nutrition, but are also full of calories and fat that does the human body no good. Cut off fast food intake to once a week initially and reduce it every month. Recreate their choice of fast food at home with healthier alternatives to make your kid identify the importance of ingredients and the emphasis on homemade food rather than only ‘home food’.
Whole grain bread and cereals are the only healthy way of incorporating carbohydrates into your children’s diet nowadays. If purchasing, go whole grain, and if making at home, purchase cereals like ragi, jowar, bajra, wild rice, sorghum, and barley for healthier alternatives, and make their favorite snack at home with it. They will not be able to say no to it.
Incorporate more healthy fats into your child’s diet instead of trans fat-ridden items. Include lots of unsaturated fats from vegetables, fish, nut butter, olive oil, and flax seeds, some saturated fat from dairy and fatty meat, and little to zero trans-fat items like margarine and junk food.
Portion control plays a crucial role in healthy eating as it ensures your child does not overeat or consume more calories than is good for them. Parents should make sure their child stays within their daily calorie intake for the day regularly. Else, if this persists, it will lead to lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol in kids.
Incorporate lots of fruits and veggies into your kids’ diet as this will help them fulfill their daily vitamin and minerals requirements. Put them in soups, smoothies, and snacks in creative ways, while adding a good portion with every main meal. These healthy additions to their diet will revitalize their immunity and help kids form a good relationship with fruits and vegetables, for the future.