One fantastic way to get your children involved in what they are eating, is to have them help. A great way to start is to let them make up their lunch for the next day. Obviously you will need to set some guidelines. For example, when I turned 9 I was allowed to make up my own lunch. In my girlfriends' houses they were 10 and in some others 11. However, we all felt very important and grown up that we were allowed to make up our own lunch. Again, my mom had certain guidelines. We had to pick a lunch meat, fruit or yogurt and bread to put it on (white, wheat, rye or a roll; today wraps are another alternative). As I got older however, I cut down to a half sandwich as I found I didn't always finish a full sandwich. I continue to eat lunch this way today, a half sandwich and some fruit.
Large meals make people full and sleepy, and they cut down on employee's productiveness. Think of what large meals do to your children at school. We want our children alert so that they can learn, not falling asleep at their desks, so let's keep those lunches on the lighter side. You can do this if you provide them with a good breakfast.
By working beside your children and discussing what they eat for lunch (healthy protein, fruit, veggie and healthy carbs) you are helping them to understand the importance of whole foods and the avoidance of junk foods. You are helping them to learn and make smart informed choices and as they get older these good habits will stay with them. They will learn that these types of food will help them feel better and look better, give them more energy. Try to drop the phrase healthy foods from your vocabulary and let them see that the food choices they are making will help them feel so much better. Put the emphasis on how their body is feeling and all the energy they have rather than "that food is bad for you, why don't you eat this healthy food".
I know of one family that actually had the food pyramid on their bulletin board in their kitchen and it helped them to pick out what foods they wanted. Their mom actually let them help plan not only their lunch meals, but the meals during the week also. Everyone got a chance to decide what to eat on certain nights. Again, however, the caveats were there about food choices. They had to pick a protein, vegetable, carbohydrate and fruit. By keeping the food pyramid handy her kids got to see what was available. I also remember her taking out pictures of the various meats (beef, pork, chicken) so they could see what they looked like. In addition, she had a book available with recipes of chicken and rice, corn beef and cabbage, standing rib roast, etc. The book also had the different kinds of vegetables and recipes for different ways to prepare them. It also included different types of salads, lunch meats, breads and fruits. All of the recipes had pictures of what the food looked like. She usually baked a cake or pie over the weekend and they got to have a dessert other than fruit, Jell-O, pudding or fruit cup on Saturday and Sunday.
Unlike today, when we grew up we played outside, rode our bikes, ran around, roller skated, and the list goes on and on. We didn't have computers or computer games. So in addition to the above healthy eating choices you need to plan some activities for your children today other than the television or video games. This is a topic however, for a future article.
Copyright 2005, DeFiore Enterprises
Introducing Keep Kids Fit: A How To Guide For Setting Up And Running Your Own Business In One Year Or Less! Solutions for parents who want healthy children in body and mind! Our motto, "Eat Healthy, Live Healthy, Help Keep Kids Fit" Keep Kids Fit asks the question: Do You Want To Help Foster A Healthy Lifestyle For Your Child! If you answered yes, then visit our web blog at: http://hbsblogs.typepad.com/keepkidsfit/ and visit our website today at: http://hbsblogs.typepad.com/keepkidsfit/
rental limo Atlanta .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareThe choices are mind numbing. Walk into any toy store... Read More
Successful families don't just happen. They take time, talent and... Read More
I'll never forget my first lesson in a glider.I'd been... Read More
Most research into children's friendships shows that those children who... Read More
If you really want to get your children to eat... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 31,... Read More
Giving advice to a teenager is very easy; getting a... Read More
Goal setting is essential for building a successful life. However,... Read More
Having a high level of emotional intelligence in your children... Read More
Teaching kids to deal with conflict effectively and peacefully is... Read More
Along with eating healthier we need to be more active.... Read More
While youth gangs are nothing new -- they've been traced... Read More
Detox To Conceive.. If you're having trouble conceiving... Read More
Do you remember how you first learned the alphabet? I... Read More
You send your child to school and the teachers teach... Read More
What is child sexual abuse? Any sexual activity that is... Read More
Start some gardening traditions with your kids. Give them their... Read More
Suppose that you rearrange your life to homeschool your child... Read More
One of the implications of the current trend toward smaller... Read More
Many children enjoy TV, and they can learn from it.... Read More
When you hear the phrase, 'guerrilla parenting techniques', what images... Read More
Here's the scene of communication with your child: your three-year-old... Read More
When choosing the perfect jogging stroller, a very important question... Read More
Do you ever wonder what is behind the occasional nasty... Read More
'And all because of a damned cat! It's only a... Read More
Bedford Park taxi to Midway ..Although nothing anybody says can ever completely prepare a woman... Read More
Dads, please let me encourage you to change some things... Read More
I recently heard a story that has literally changed the... Read More
Do you have a high maintenance child?"Thank goodness my second... Read More
Levels of SafetyBy teaching our children there are different levels... Read More
Many families today are blending members from past relationships. It... Read More
the woes of being a parent of an ADHD child.....Like... Read More
Not Letting Them Think.We all implicitly know that anything questioning... Read More
Saturday mornings. Cold cereal and Scooby Doo. How many parents... Read More
Here is an easy, inexpensive and fun kid experiment for... Read More
When parents help their children learn to read, they help... Read More
For first time parents choosing a swing set or outdoor... Read More
At first I thought of titling this article "The Lazy... Read More
All too often, children with learning disabilities are seen through... Read More
In an actual war, to be attacked means to have... Read More
Imagine having no television for an entire season. Such was... Read More
The law of -ing.The law of -ing refers to a... Read More
NY -- Strange as it may sound, bordom promotes happier,... Read More
Do you remember how you first learned the alphabet? I... Read More
Vinegar or honey, what do kids really want? "Toys, candy,... Read More
As a parent you will be asked to assist with... Read More
Here we will come to know who are the most... Read More
I've often thought that in 6 million years, archaeologists will... Read More
In the news, we hear and see an increasing number... Read More
I've learned numerous, important lessons on life, motherhood and men... Read More
Parenting |