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Last Updated: Apr 28th, 2010 - 22:06:40 |
Modeling Heatlhy Eating Patterns for Your Little Ones
By
Oct 25, 2008, 15:05
Teaching kids about nutrition by modeling healthy eating habits.
Nutritious eating habits are generally formed long before children
start to pick their own foods. Children adopt the eating habits of their parents. Parents and child care providers are the first role models that children have contact with.
Children are excellent observers. When children observe what
is going on in the kitchen, they can make an entire dialogue with their invisible friend on how to fry french fries or make a salad.
In many tests involving the eating patterns of children, researchers found that their eating habits, including preferences for certain foods was linked to the patterns and preferences of their parents.
As children transition from bottles to bacon, they beging to develop eating habits that stay with them throughout their lives. Healthy eating patterns that are started at a very early age will follow them through adulthood.
Since it is documented that eating healthy can decrease serious illness,
it is important that parents start giving a carrot stick or an apple for a
fun snack rather than a sugar filled snack. Children eat what they see grown-ups eating.
Parents don't realize the huge influence that they have over what their children learn to eat. Following the eating patterns of little ones, research confirmed that the attitudes about food are almost as hereditary as the color of their eyes. This fact puts a lot of stress on caregivers.
But understanding the far reaching consequences of this study will result
in healthier children and healthier caregivers.
Caregivers can relate to the fact that they associate both positive and
negative memories with food. When children are involved in fun activities,
they usually are eating junk food. The food offered at the park is all about hotdogs, ice cream and high sugar goodies.
The smell of Grandma's cookies baking in the oven might evoke feelings
of love and security. While the smell of vegetables cooking might invoke a negative memory of having to clean the plate of vegetables before getting dessert.
Bribing a little one to eat healthy is a short term strategy that will usually backfire. "These contingency strategies are effective in the short run; they elicit the correct response, says Dr. Fisher, Ph.D, assistnant profession of Pediatrics at Baylor College of medicine. In a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Dr Fisher made a direct link to the eating patterns of children and their parents.
Dr. Fisher and her researchers made some startling discoveries surrounding the eating patterns of children. The children of caregivers who consumed lots of fruits and vegetables in turn had children who also consumed the same types of foods. Alternatively, caregivers who only allowed healthy eating but led an unhealthy eating lifestyle, had children who ate low amounts of fruits and vegetables.
Children will respect and respond to the power of influence. Because
nitritious eating patterns are as important for parents as it for the children, the commitment to eating healthier will be easy.
The moral of the study is that if you want your children to follow healthy
eating habits, the general rule is you must show them - don't just tell them.
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