With a fresh school year around the corner, it’s a great time to implement fresh...
With a fresh school year around the corner, it’s a great time to implement fresh nutrition ideas. For kids and parents alike, this can also be a great time to either get back into or establish a new routine. The behaviors and habits parents instill in children surrounding food and nutrition can have a lasting impact on their relationship with food and body image. Below are some tips and food for thought to help your children nourish their bodies and minds for school and play.
On the note of shopping, if your child likes to bring their lunch to school, purchasing a new lunch kit may add to the back-to-school excitement. When shopping for a new backpack and school supplies, take a peek at the lunch box section and look for a lunch kit that has a lot of zippers and compartments to house various containers. This can create a game for kids to find and eat everything packed in the lunch kit.
Though it’s always easier said than done, we know that one of the best ways to set your kiddos up to be well-fueled is by planning ahead! Preparing and packing lunch with your children is another great opportunity to make them feel involved. Ask them to help you wash produce and pick out what they want to pack for lunch. When feeding children, visually aim for half of their plate to consist of two or three colors of fruits and vegetables.
It is essential to talk about healthy foods in the context of overall health, not weight. Most often, making comments like “Ugh, I ate too much sugar today, I’m going to have to be extra good tomorrow!” is subconscious. Though unintentional, such commentary can have a profound impact on the malleable minds of little ones. It can influence them to avoid foods that can contribute positively to their health, and create significant gaps in nutrition that have physiologic consequences.