Nutrition
Practice what you preach when it comes to nutrition.
You are your children's first and most important teacher,
even if your children, particularly your preteens and teens,
don't always see it that way.
Here are some ways to be mindful of what you eat as a family:
- Shop for groceries together. Read food labels for nutritional content, and choose foods that are low in sugar and fat.
- Discuss the school lunch menu with your child in advance to help him or her make wise food choices. Or, if your child takes a lunch from home, have him or her help pack a healthy one.
- Allow your kids to cook with you, and let them help plan the week's meals. Slowly introduce some new wholesome foods.
- Dine together as a family as often as possible. Remember, the car is not the dinner table; refrain from eating there as it encourages eating fast food on the run.
- Stock your home with low-sugar foods and rid the pantry of refined sugar, i.e., processed white sugar found, for example, in many boxed snacks and cereals.
- Avoid fast-food restaurants by planning your meals and snacks before leaving home.
- Be prepared for meal-time changes and food substitutions if necessary.
- Do not give food as a reward.
