| -> | | | | Another interesting point brought up by this study is |
| In today's world of fast foods, packaged and | | | | that parents who scored highest on the dietary |
| processed snacks, and sugar laden soft drinks, | | | | restraint scale (which is a scale that measures an |
| teaching your children about healthy eating habits can | | | | individual's effort to restrict food intake) had children |
| be a real challenge. But while it's true that temptation | | | | whose body fat was consistently higher than parents |
| is all around, it's still possible to instill a healthy | | | | who scored lower on the scale. This suggests that |
| nutritional foundation in your children. In fact, now | | | | parents who attempt to exert too much control |
| more than ever parents need to take responsibility | | | | over their child's eating (I.E. "Finish all your pasta |
| to help their children avoid the obesity trap. The key: | | | | before you play" or "No dessert until you clear your |
| the earlier you start, the better. | | | | plate", etc.) may cause the child to lose their ability to |
| The foundation for teaching kids about good nutrition | | | | regulate and recognize their own hunger cues. |
| should be laid when they are babies. Medical editor Dr. | | | | So besides starting early, practicing what you preach |
| Michael Breen in Chicago suggests that parents should | | | | and introducing new foods regularly, what else can |
| expose young children to new foods regularly, but | | | | you do as a parent to help foster a healthy nutritional |
| separately. For example, one week you might | | | | foundation in your child? Here are some other simple |
| introduce your toddler to broccoli, and the next week | | | | tips to get you on your way:o Limit soda to special |
| black beans. Breen also recommends introducing a | | | | occasions only, and instead offer water and no sugar |
| new food alongside a child's favorite food. | | | | added juices to drink. One really healthy and fun |
| Children Do As You Do, Not As You Say | | | | snack for kids is real fruit smoothies. They pack in |
| Another finding, which may not be what some | | | | the nutritional punch as well as taste so good!o Use |
| parents want to hear, is that if you want your kids | | | | milk containing no more than 2% milk fat, 1% or skim |
| to eat well, you need to practice what you preach. A | | | | is preferredo Don't completely restrict foods (unless |
| March 2000 study presented by the American Heart | | | | of course your child has an allergy to that food). |
| Association found a strong connection between | | | | Restricting and banning certain foods tends to |
| parents who exhibited impulsive eating and obesity in | | | | backfire and cause the child to seek the forbidden |
| their children. It's important for parents to realize that | | | | food even more.o When introducing new foods, don't |
| children are being influenced by their own eating | | | | force your child to eat it. If they taste it and express |
| habits even if the child is not participating directly in it. | | | | dislike, don't make them finish the food. Instead, put |
| Take for example, a mother who eats a pint of ice | | | | it aside and re-introduce it in a few months, perhaps |
| cream out of the container while watching television | | | | prepared differently. For example, if they didn't like |
| with her 5 year old. While the child did not eat the ice | | | | cauliflower the first time around, in a few months |
| cream them self, and in fact may only be allowed | | | | make it with a tasty sauce.o Breakfast is important! |
| moderate portions of ice cream on occasion, the | | | | If you have a child that isn't particularly fond of |
| behavior of their mother is still indirectly influencing | | | | traditional "breakfast foods", a small portion of |
| their attitude, opinions, and eventually their own | | | | leftover dinner will do the trick. |
| eating habits. | | | | |