How to Encourage Healthy Eating Habits in Children during National Heart Health Month

As National Heart Health Month approaches, it’s important to acknowledge that healthy eating habits play a huge role in reducing the risk of heart diseases. Studies show that developing healthy eating habits at a young age can help in maintaining them for life, reducing the risk of heart diseases and other health conditions. Encouraging healthy eating habits in children can be challenging, but those efforts can have long-term benefits. Here are some ways to encourage healthy eating habits in children during National Heart Health Month.

Involve children in meal planning and preparation

It has been proven that involving children in meal planning and preparation can inspire them to eat more healthily. You can give your children a chance to pick some of their favorite healthy foods, help them plan a menu, and let them help out in the kitchen. Children are more likely to eat something when they helped in making it.

Be a good role model

Children tend to imitate the behavior of their parents, hence being a good role model is crucial. As a parent, you need to develop healthy eating habits yourself, especially in front of your children. Incorporating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy foods in your meals is essential. Other ways you can be a good role model is by avoiding eating on the go, avoiding junk foods, soda, and sugary drinks.

Make healthy foods fun

Children are more likely to eat foods that are fun and colorful. You can make food fun by using different shapes, sizes, and colors. For instance, you can make a salad in the shape of a smiley face, use cookie cutters to cut fruits and vegetables in different shapes, and arrange different colorful fruits in a fun way to make a rainbow-themed plate.

Educate children on the benefits of healthy eating

Children are curious by nature; hence educating them on the benefits of healthy eating is essential. Explain to them the importance of eating different types of food, what they do for our bodies, and why they are crucial for maintaining good health. You can use books, videos, and games to make the learning fun and interactive.

Encourage healthy eating habits consistently

Encouraging healthy eating habits should be consistent. Children will more likely choose healthy food if they are consistently exposed to them. You can achieve this by ensuring that healthy options are always available, and the unhealthy options are minimal, such as avoiding keeping junk food in the house.

Use positive reinforcement

Positive reinforcement, such as praising your child’s efforts in choosing healthy food, is critical. Praising children encourages them to make more healthy food choices and makes them feel appreciated.

Make eating together as a family a priority

Eating together as a family not only promotes good communication but also encourages healthy eating. Children tend to copy the eating habits of adults. You can make eating together as a family a priority by planning meals in advance, eating together at the table, and enjoying each other’s company.

Encourage physical activity

Physical activity is vital for maintaining healthy hearts, and children who engage in physical activity are more likely to eat healthily. Encourage your child to play outdoor games, ride a bike, dance, or engage in any physical activity that interests them.

In conclusion, National Heart Health Month presents an opportunity to start encouraging healthy eating habits in children. Making healthy foods fun, involving children in meal planning and preparation, being a good role model, educating children on the benefits of healthy foods, using positive reinforcement, and encouraging physical activity can help in developing healthy eating habits among children. Remember that encouragement and consistency are the keys to success.

You can read more about healthy eating for your heart at:
https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/bundles/healthy-living-and-eating/healthy-eating

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Kinder Buddies Oakville Daycare is a Quality First Daycare and Infant Care facility in Oakville, Ontario. We take care of children from the age of 6 weeks to 5 1/2 providing nutritious meals and fun activities all day long.