Health expert suggests parents to focus on the nutrition of their children with these foolproof tips for healthy eating.

In today’s fast-paced world, a large number of children and families lead hectic lives that make it challenging to enjoy home-cooked meals regularly and as a result, many kids rely heavily on convenient takeout options, which may not always be the healthiest choice. Poor dietary habits can have negative effects on the child’s health hence, encouraging nutritious eating habits in children improves energy levels, boosts cognitive function, promotes emotional stability, supports weight management and reduces depression and anxiety. Dr Atul Palwe, Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist at Motherhood Hospital in Pune’s Lullanagar, shared how healthy eating habits prevent many chronic diseases such as obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes in later life and that’s why it’s essential to inculcate healthy habits in children. He suggested some foolproof tips for healthy eating.

1. Children should begin the day with a nutritious breakfast that includes protein, as it can aid in keeping your child feeling satisfied for a longer period and may also assist teenagers in weight management. Given the busy nature of mornings, consider trying one of these convenient and healthy on-the-go breakfast options such as an egg sandwich on whole-wheat bread, smoothies, yogurt, avocado, or peanut butter and toast.

2. Encourage your kids to join you in grocery shopping and selecting foods. Educate them on how to interpret food labels to understand the nutritional value of their choices. Involve them in meal preparation and empower them to take charge of their eating habits. Cultivate a garden as a fun activity for your child. Growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs can impart important lessons while fostering a sense of accomplishment through planting, tending, and harvesting your produce.

3. Emphasize the importance of family meals as a way to foster healthy eating habits and strengthen family bonds. Gathering around the table not only involves sharing food but also offers an opportunity to provide comfort to your children, establish routines, engage in meaningful conversations, and deepen connections within the family. Use mealtimes as a chance to observe and guide your children’s eating habits, especially as they spend more time away from home. By modeling healthy eating behaviors yourself, you can inspire your child to make better food choices without fixating on calories.

4. Make gradual changes to the child’s diet instead of completely revamping the meal plan. Replace a few unhealthy items in your kitchen with better alternatives, gradually incorporating more nutritious options over time that is white bread with multigrain bread, potato chips with sweet potato baked chips, ice cream with a smoothie, desserts or bakery items with homemade laddoos consisting of nuts, jaggery and dates.

5. Parents should see to it that the child avoids fat by not eating fried foods and choosing healthier cooking methods, such as broiling, grilling, roasting, and steaming. So, ensure balanced nutrition when it comes to your children.