Teaching Our Children Healthy Eating Habits

If you live in the USA you've no doubt heard - or seen for yourself - the alarming number of children who are overweight. University and Medical Science studies are revealing an alarming trend. How can we fix this? How might we better teach our children to make healthy eating choices throughout their lives.

It is so easy to stop at your child's favorite fast-food place and get them something quick and easy. However the time we save too often results in really bad food choices. Fast food is all too often FAT FOOD. We've seen attempts by the big chains to offer healthier alternatives with their children's meals. That's Great! The responsibility for our children's health lies with us parents.

I love fries! And after two or three of those salty delights I've had enough grease for one day! And a big, juicy hamburger sounds really good sometimes. Almost always the taste is - well - not as great as the memory from younger days. Those fast food burgers are just not that great tasting.

Wouldn't it taste a whole lot better to pick out some lean ground sirloin or angus and create a hamburger masterpiece? Toss on a bunch of fresh spinach or green and an onion or tomato slice. Use whole wheat bread instead of those plain white buns. Skip the fatty mayo and use a low fat spicy mustard instead.

Skip the soda or milk-shake and prepare a healthy smoothie instead! Or serve some low-fat or soy milk. How about some plain, filtered water? My kids don't seem to drink anything except soda anymore.

Calories are but one aspect of your child's diet. Perhaps we need to show them to eat types and amounts of food that will promote better health. You could use up all of your calories on a few high-calorie foods or drinks, but if you did, chances are you wouldn’t get the full range of nutrients your body needs to be healthy.

Instead, choose the most nutritionally rich foods you can each day—those packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients but lower in calories. Pick foods like fruits, vegetables, dry beans and peas, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk.

Maybe if we teach our children the habit of eating healthy foods we can help them avoid the unpleasant consequences of obesity. Maybe we can show them the ways to better health via fun and sports and exercise. Who knows, maybe we might all enjoy the benefits of better health together!