This is the twelfth installment of 12 Nutrition Hints & Tips for Your Children which can also be downloaded from our free eBook library.
A recent Reader’s Digest article entitled, “Foods that Harm, Foods that Heal” listed some excellent “Do’s and Don’ts” to follow in regard to your child’s nutrition. Some of these have been mentioned in our eBook, but this is a quick, simple reminder of what you should and shouldn’t do in order to keep your children eating healthy!
- Do set a good example for your child to copy. Share mealtimes and eat the same healthy foods.
- Do discourage snacking on sweets and fatty foods. Keep plenty of healthy foods, such as fruits, raw vegetables, low-fat crackers, and yogurt, around for children to eat between meals.
- Do allow children to follow their natural appetites when deciding how much to eat.
- Do encourage children to enjoy fruits and vegetables by giving them a variety from an early age.
- Do ask children to help prepare meals. If parents rely mostly on convenience foods, children may not learn to enjoy cooking.
- Don’t add unnecessary sugar to drinks and foods.
- Don’t accustom children to extra salt by adding it to food or placing the shaker on the table.
- Don’t give whole nuts to children under the age of 5, who may choke on them. Peanut butter and chopped nuts are fine as long as the child is not allergic to them.
- Don’t force children to eat more than they want.
- Don’t use food as a bribe.
- Don’t make children feel guilty about eating any type of food.
Follow these simple tips on child nutrition and you’ll be enriching the life of your youngsters. To enrich the lives of other children in Southwest Florida, you can volunteer your time, make donations, or participate in a fundraiser at www.CCSWFL.org.
-Beth Lobdell
To read the Reader’s Digest article mentioned above, click here.
