By eating more yourself.
It’s true!!
When parents eat more fruits and vegetables at home, so do their children including preschoolers.
Who knew?
A recent study followed 1,300 families, half of whom received home visits where they learned about nutrition and tactics geared toward having their children eat more fruits and vegetables.
What happened is that many of these parents increased their fruit and vegetable intake in the process, and so did their children.
On the flip side, parents who ate more sweet and salty food also had children who did the same. Kids who were already overweight were the only group of children, whose fruit and vegetable consumption didn’t increase.
Overweight children," lead researcher Dr. Debra Haire-Joshu, of Saint Louis University School of Public Health in St. Louis said, "have already been exposed to salty, sweet foods and learned to like them. To keep a child from becoming overweight, parents need to expose them early to a variety of health foods and offer the foods many times."
While having a home visit by someone who can teach the value of fruits and vegetables is lofty, it’s not practical. However, most people already know that eating more fruits and vegetables is sensible nutrition and good for you.
As always, it’s usually a matter of knowing, and then doing. Common sense dictates that parents be role models for their children-- for every aspect of a child’s life.
Especially being a good example for them regarding proper nutrition, exercise and the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
So as the new school year resumes, remember to prepare healthy snacks and lunches for your children.
Not only will you benefit, but so will your children, because
It’s about a healthy lifestyle!
Photo courtesy of mijori
