J&D Ultracare places great importance on health, which is why we have a group of professional nurses that are able to help those in need. We pride ourselves on being the only agency in the Hudson Valley devoted primarily to pediatrics and we’ve been providing this service since 1985!
The work we do is extremely important to making sure kids are healthy, but there are plenty of things that parents can do on their own in order to improve the health of their kids. Perhaps one of the most important things kids should do is eating a healthy diet. Not only is it better for them to eat healthy food, it also makes a big impression on them that impacts how they eat for the rest of their lives. That’s why it’s so important to get kids to eat healthy as their growing up!
We found some great tips on WebMDthat shows how parents can raise food-smart kids with ease. This article goes into great detail, outlining ten tips that will help your kids eat healthier. We’re going to highlight five of those tips here on the blog, but if you want to see the full list, we highly recommend you read the WebMD article by clicking here.
Without further ado, here are five tips to get your kids eating healthy from WebMD:
- Avoid placing restrictions on food.
Restricting food increases the risk your child may develop eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia later in life. It can also have a negative effect on growth and development. Instead of banning foods, talk about all the healthy, nutritional options there are — encouraging your family to choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy, while avoiding heavily processed, low-quality junk foods.
- Keep healthy food at hand.
Children will eat what’s available. Keep fruit in a bowl on the counter, not buried in the crisper section of your fridge. Remember, your child can only choose foods that you stock in the house. And have an apple for your own snack.
- Don’t label foods as “good” or “bad.”
Instead, tie foods to the things your child cares about, such as sports or doing well in school. Let your child know that lean protein such as turkey and calcium in dairy products give them strength for sports. The antioxidants in fruits and vegetables add luster to skin and hair. And eating a healthy breakfast can help them keep focus in class.
- Praise healthy choices.
Give your children a proud smile and praise when they choose healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, or low-fat dairy.
- Don’t nag about unhealthy choices.
When children choose fatty, fried, unhealthy foods, redirect them by suggesting a healthier option.
Instead of regular potato chips and dip, offer baked tortilla chips and salsa.
If your child wants candy, try dipping fresh strawberries in a little chocolate sauce. Too busy? Keep naturally sweet dried fruit at home for quick snacks.
Instead of buying French fries, try roasting cut up potatoes in the oven (tossed in just a bit of oil).
Our favorite tip is keeping healthy foods at hand. It sounds simple, but we find it to be the most effective. For example, if something like a fruit bowl is out on the table instead of a bag of chips, kids will naturally gravitate to the fruit solely because it’s in their reach. It’s that simple!
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