Ensure that your family eats healthily this year by following these tips:
o Work to add fruits and vegetables into the daily routine. Aim for a goal of at least five servings a day.
o Keep fruits and vegetables on hand and ready to eat, therefore making it easy for your child to choose healthy snacks. Healthy and tasty snacks include low-fat yogurt, peanut butter and celery, or whole-grain crackers or bread and cheese.
o Serve them with lean meats and other good sources of protein at meal times, such as fish, eggs, beans, and nuts.
o For more fiber in their diets, choose to have whole-grain breads and cereals.
o Limit their unhealthy fat intake by avoiding deep-fried foods and choose to have healthier home-made cooking methods, such as boiling, grilling, roasting, and steaming. Choose low-fat or non-fat dairy products.
o Limit your family’s fast food and other low-nutrient meals and snacks, such as fast food, chips and sweets.
o Limit sugary drinks, such as soda and fruit-flavored drinks. Serve water and low-fat milk instead.
o Establish a predictable set schedule of meals and snacks. It prevents nibbling as the family knows when to expect the next meal.
o Don’t force your children to clean their plates as it encourages them to overeat. Let them eat till they are full and let them leave whatever is left on the plate, at home and anywhere else you eat as well. This is a habit that can easily be carried through their entire life.
o Don’t bribe or reward kids with food or snacks.
o Don’t use food as a way of showing love. When you want to show love, give kids a hug, some of your time, or praises your attention and your unconditional love.
These are only a few tips on how to build a healthy happy family this year. Start today, love your family and give them the best you can give them.