One of the most important things parents can do for their children — as well as themselves — is to model healthy eating at home. Here are a few tips for helping your family eat smart:
- Make mealtime family time. Children are more likely to eat what they’ve helped prepare — and research shows that children tend to consume more fruits, vegetables and dairy products when eating meals as family.
- Keep healthy snacks on-hand wherever you go. Peanut butter and crackers, fresh fruit, popcorn, pretzels or portable yogurts are all good choices.
- Keep “fast food” to a minimum. An average child eating a full meal one time a week at a fast-food restaurant can gain as many as six extra pounds a year! (http://www.wisegeek.com/should-i-let-my-children-eat-fast-food.htm)
- Set a good example. Did you eat your five-to-nine servings of fruits and vegetables today? Role modeling is by far the most powerful, effective way to help your children eat well.