---------- OR ----------

Create account

Join clubs to discuss your interests
Connect with people like you
Share information, seek advice, get support


Home Pregnancy Baby Names Lucky Names Parenting Rhymes Stories Beauty Love Contests More Cooking Discussion Getting Pregnant Expecting a Baby Newborn Baby (0-3 months) Baby (3-12 months) Toddler (1-3 years) Preschoolers (3-5 years) Kids (5-9 years) Pre-Teens (9-12 years) Teens (13-18 years) Sex Education Preconception Miscarriages Fertility Issues Adoption Pregnancy Newborn Care Baby Names Baby Naming Tips Baby's Diet Child's Healthcare Child Development Pre-Schools Raising Children Food & Nutrition Manners & Discipline Intelligent Child Confident Child Teen Issues Baby Photo Contest Kids Photo Contest

Food and Nutrition Topics..

Eat Healthy Eat Right

Eating Disorders and Compulsions

Recipes for Kids

You are here : home > Food and Nutrition > Eat Healthy Eat Right > Top 5 Healthy Eating Habits You Must Develop in Your Kids

Top 5 Healthy Eating Habits You Must Develop in Your Kids

Itisnecessarytodevelophealthyeatinghabitsinkidsrightfromearlychildhoodsothattheyfollowsuchhabitswhenthegrow-up.Herearetop5healthyeatinghabitswhichyoumustinculcateinyourkids.Ifparentsdesiretoinculcatehealthyhabitsintheirchildrenitwillbefruitfulwhenstartedearlyinlife.Achildstartshavingpreferencesataveryearlystageandthelikingsanddislikingtheyformduringthisphaseremainwiththemforrestofthelifesoitisbettertogetthekidsintohealthyeatinghabitssothatitbecomespartoftheirdailyroutine.Belowarethetop5healthyeatinghabitsthatparentsmustdevelopintheirkidssothattheirphysicalandmentalgrowthisnotobstructed.InthisarticleEatingSlowtoChewWellMealTimeShouldBeFixedFixingthePortionofMealRestrictConsumptionofJunkFoodServeVarietyofFoods1.EatingSlowtoChewWellParentsshouldmakethechildunderstandthatchewingthefoodswellisveryimportantforitsproperdigestion.Whenachildchewsthefoodwell,thedigestionprocessinthebodytakesgoodstartwhenfoodparticlesarebrokendownverywellwithinthemouth.Teachingthechildrentoeatslowlytochewthefoodwellhasanotheradvantage.Itpreventsthechildfromovereating.Whenfoodsaretakenfastthenstomachcannotsendsignalstothebrainindicatingthatstomachisfullandmorefoodmaygetconsumed.2.MealTimeShouldBeFixedWeallleadveryfastlifenowadaysandevenkidsarenotoutofit.Childrenareinvolvedintoomanyactivitiesandattimetheyfinditdifficulttomaintaintheirroutine.Itisbetterthatallmembersofthefamilytaketheirmealsatfixedtimingsthenthekidswillgetintothehabitautomatically.Childrenshouldneverskiptheirmeal.Whenallthemembersofafamilytaketheirmealssittingtogetherithelpsincreatingbetterfamilybondagetoo.3.FixingthePortionofMealEvenifthefoodishomemade,theamountfoodtobeservedtothekidsshouldbefixed.Parentsshouldworkoutonthedailymenutoensurefoodsthatarecookedregularlyhavethenutrientsthatchildrenneedfortheirgrowth.Ifrequired,parentsmustseekadvicesfromthedieticiansandfindouttheexactamountoffoodtheirkidsshouldtake.Thegrowthofachildgetshamperedwhenrightamountoffoodisnottaken.4.RestrictConsumptionofJunkFoodWithsomanytypesofjunkfoodsavailableforthekids,theyareinclinedtoconsumethemveryoften.Thisiswheretheroleofaresponsibleparentcountsalot.Havingjunkfoodsonregularbasiswillseriouslyaffectthehealthofthechildasthesefoodshavehighoilandsugarcontentandmaycontainharmfulchemicals.Parentsmustmakethechildunderstandthebadeffectsofthesefoodsandrestricttheirintake.5.ServeVarietyofFoodsChildrentendtoconsumefastfoodsnotonlybecausetheytantalizetheirtastebudstoagreatextentbutalsobecausemanykidsdonotgetvarietiesoffoodtoconsume.Nochildwouldliketoeatsamefoodeverydaysoparentsmustworkhardtofindoutwaystocatertheirchildrenwithvarietiesoffoods.Maybejustadditionofanewflavouroraddingapinchofspiceorlemonjuicecanchangethetasteofthesameoldboringfoodandchildrenwouldacceptthisnewflavourwithjoy.Itmayhappenthatachilddoesnotliketoeattomatoinsaladsbutheorsheenjoystangytomatosoupwithbreadsticks.Thesamefoodingredientcouldbeservedindifferentformssoparentsmustfindoutaboutthepreferencesofthekidsandthentrytoservethemwiththevarieties.Gettingintohealthyeatinghabitswillnotonlyhelpthechildrentohavehealthychildhoodbuttheycanenjoyitsbenefitthroughouttheirlife.Howtoinculcatehealthyeatinghabitsinkids?Whatisitimportanttocultivatehealthyeatinghabitsrightfromearlychildhood?Whichhealthyeatinghabitscanbelearntbychildreneasily?Discusshere.

If parents desire to inculcate healthy habits in their children it will be fruitful when started early in life. A child starts having preferences at a very early stage and the likings and disliking they form during this phase remain with them for rest of the life so it is better to get the kids into healthy eating habits so that it becomes part of their daily routine. Below are the top 5 healthy eating habits that parents must develop in their kids so that their physical and mental growth is not obstructed.

1. Eating Slow to Chew Well

Parents should make the child understand that chewing the foods well is very important for its proper digestion. When a child chews the food well, the digestion process in the body takes good start when food particles are broken down very well within the mouth. Teaching the children to eat slowly to chew the food well has another advantage. It prevents the child from overeating. When foods are taken fast then stomach cannot send signals to the brain indicating that stomach is full and more food may get consumed.

2. Meal Time Should Be Fixed

We all lead very fast life nowadays and even kids are not out of it. Children are involved in too many activities and at time they find it difficult to maintain their routine. It is better that all members of the family take their meals at fixed timings then the kids will get into the habit automatically. Children should never skip their meal. When all the members of a family take their meals sitting together it helps in creating better family bondage too.

3. Fixing the Portion of Meal

Even if the food is homemade, the amount food to be served to the kids should be fixed. Parents should work out on the daily menu to ensure foods that are cooked regularly have the nutrients that children need for their growth. If required, parents must seek advices from the dieticians and find out the exact amount of food their kids should take. The growth of a child gets hampered when right amount of food is not taken.

4. Restrict Consumption of Junk Food

With so many types of junk foods available for the kids, they are inclined to consume them very often. This is where the role of a responsible parent counts a lot. Having junk foods on regular basis will seriously affect the health of the child as these foods have high oil and sugar content and may contain harmful chemicals. Parents must make the child understand the bad effects of these foods and restrict their intake.

5. Serve Variety of Foods

Children tend to consume fast foods not only because they tantalize their taste buds to a great extent but also because many kids do not get varieties of food to consume. No child would like to eat same food everyday so parents must work hard to find out ways to cater their children with varieties of foods. May be just addition of a new flavour or adding a pinch of spice or lemon juice can change the taste of the same old boring food and children would accept this new flavour with joy. It may happen that a child does not like to eat tomato in salads but he or she enjoys tangy tomato soup with breadsticks. The same food ingredient could be served in different forms so parents must find out about the preferences of the kids and then try to serve them with the varieties.

Getting into healthy eating habits will not only help the children to have healthy childhood but they can enjoy its benefit throughout their life.

How to inculcate healthy eating habits in kids? What is it important to cultivate healthy eating habits right from early childhood? Which healthy eating habits can be learnt by children easily? Discuss here.