Bad eating habits can give rise to many health issues in kids during childhood as well as when they grow-up. So encouraging kids to break such habits is essential. Read on to learn about the 10 eating habits that can make your kids fall ill.Kids are very vulnerable to eating all sorts of harmful stuff that has a long term ill effects on their health. They are also prone to developing
eating disorders which can ruin their health in future. Children base all their decisions about food on the visual and taste appeal and do not really know or think about health factors. Here are some food habits that you should immediately help your kids break as such habits can make them fall ill.
1. Mindless Munching
Give your kid a large carton of popcorn and a good movie and you will find the carton empty after a couple of hours. In the long run mindless eating will make your kids obese. Food psychologists say that giving large portions of food to small children has a balloon effect on the appetite. Teach the child about portion control and demonstrate that mindless munching of snacks is not a healthy pastime.
2. Night-Time Snacking
This is one
eating habit that can bring in a lot of trouble; teeth, digestion, sleep disorders etc for children. Most nutritionists say that eating anything sweet or starchy just before bedtime will only help pile on the calories and wreck the teeth. Make your children brush their teeth as soon as dinner is over. After that, teach them to think that the kitchen and the refrigerator are closed and so no snacking before bedtime.
3. Junk Bingeing
Bingeing on
Junk food is one of the worst eating habits kids can inculcate as
obesity and digestive problems are sure to follow. Many children are over dependent upon junk food and throw tantrums until their favourite form of junk is served to them. Limit your kid’s consumption of junk food to the maximum of once a week and give them other forms of rewards like playing with them or taking them to movies.
4. Not Having Breakfast
If your child rushes off to school every day without having breakfast then lethargy and lack of mindfulness at school will follow. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and it should be wholesome and balanced. Include complex carbohydrates, lean protein and healthy fat in your child’s breakfast as this meal will see him or her through an active day. In the long run not having breakfast can wreck the growth curve of a child.
5. Not Drinking Enough Water
Water is your child’s best friend. It will keep the body hydrated, flush out the junk, keep the skin healthy and give them a burst of energy. Drinking 2 liters of water every day is recommended for a kid. Not having enough water will lead to dehydration and lack of energy. If your children are reluctant to drink water then serve it to them in colourful water bottles or cute glasses with straws and entice them.
6. Eating Coloured Candy
This is a problem that most parents keep facing; candy is a hot favourite amongst kids. It is sweet and it is colourful which is why kids love it. Sucking on candy all the time will ruin your
kid’s teeth. If you cannot seduce them away from candy at least try to make them have organic sugar controlled ones and then teach them to brush their teeth immediately.
7. Not Eating Vegetables
Nutritionists say that most children nowadays suffer from constipation and bad digestion. This is a problem that can easily be solved by having adequate veggies as they have a lot of fibre which helps regulate the digestive system. However kids generally avoid eating veggies and you have to be crafty and creative enough to entice them. Serve them cutely cut vegetables decorated with delicious toppings on colourful plates and see if you can make them eat.
8. Slurping on Cola
Some children treat cola as a substitute for water and keep drinking it the whole day. This zero nutrition sugary concoction ruins your child’s teeth and brings on obesity. This is one habit you should chase away with zeal. Keep homemade smoothies and yoghurt based drinks in the fridge; they are healthier and infinitely tastier than Cola.
9. Eating Too Fast
Eating too fast means that the food is not mashed properly before it is swallowed and it will create digestive problems later. Teach your children to chomp through their food 5 times or even more than that before swallowing it. It is best if you demonstrate and lead by example.
10. Wasting Food
While wasting food will not directly make your kid ill it will definitely teach him or her to be irresponsible and wasteful. Serve your children only the correct portion and teach them to communicate their portion preferences before they begin eating. Any extra food should be preserved for later use or distribution.
If you can manage to lure your children away from these bad eating habits you will have accomplished a huge task as a parent. Some day your kids will thank for doing this.
What kind of eating habits should be discouraged in kids? Which health issues may arise in kids due to poor eating? How to control bad eating habits of kids? Discuss here.