Robert Fulghum wrote, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. A recent study shows that this can also be said about obesity. Behavioral Scientist, John Spence, from the University of Alberta in Canada found that the tendencies to being overweight and obesity develop during the formative years. In the study, Spence and his team examined the attitude of a group of four- and five-year-old preschoolers towards food in relation with their body weight. Parents of the participating children were asked to observe if they manifested either approach or avoidance behavior to food. The results of the experiment indicated that children who eat when they are bored or worried are more likely to be overweight and obese as opposed to those who are slow or picky eaters.
Meal times alone are a daunting challenge for parents and yayas. More often than not, the adult guardians give in to what the children demand just to get them to eat. Sugary cereals and other foods that are full of preservatives and artificial flavorings become the go-to cuisine at any given time of the day, neglecting the food pyramid guide.
FN shares five simple ways to get young children to eat their fruits and vegetables in the hope of cultivating healthy eating habits that last from childhood onwards.
1. SET EXAMPLES
As with anything, parents are the key influence in their child's life. Keep Kids Healthy states that the eating patterns and food preferences of children are greatly shaped by foods that parents present and enforce upon them. The best way to encourage young children to follow a proper diet is to model healthy eating habits.
2. GET THE CHILDREN INVOLVED
Instead of just asking the children what they want to have for breakfast, lunch/baon, and dinner, allow them to have a more active role in choosing the food that they eat. Coming up with a menu, grocery shopping, and preparing the food together will let them know that eating healthy can be fun.
3. CHOOSE HEALTHY RESTAURANTS
Sticking to your eating habits even if you're dining out isn't a hard thing to do. Believe it or not, there are healthy eating spots in Metro Manila where your family can indulge without the guilt.
4. USE THE POWER OF SUGGESTION
Don't force--suggest! An article from Science Daily states that salad sales in a New York School district's cafeterias tripled when canteen staff asked the children if they wanted salad to go with their meals. You can bring this practice at home by changing your tone and/or rephrasing your sentences. Scratch “Eat your fruits and vegetables!” in favor of “How about some oranges?”
5. CAMOUFLAGE
Some parents feel guilty of trickery when they camouflage vegetables in their child’s meals. However, it sometimes is the only way to get the youngsters to eat healthy. So go ahead and dip those broccoli flowers in cheese or blend small slices of fruits into jell-o!
(Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons)
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