Healthy eating is essential at every age. Use the information and resources below to help you and your family live a healthy, active lifestyle.
Eating well
Parents help their children develop good eating habits when they:
- Regularly provide family meals and snacks.
- Do not pressure kids to eat foods they do not like.
- Encourage children to stop eating when full.
- Offer meals and snacks that are nutritious and good tasting.
- Keep mealtimes pleasant.
- Teach children how to deal with uncomfortable feelings without eating (without using food for comfort or reward).
- Allow children to decide whether or not to eat and how much to eat.
- Keep the TV turned off during meals.
Living actively
Here are some ways parents can get their children moving:
- Be physically active role models.
- Encourage children to be moderately active at least 60 minutes on most days.
- Move the TV out of bedrooms.
- Set limits on the amount of time the family watches TV, works on the computer and plays video games.
- Teach children games that you liked as a child.
- Make opportunities for active family recreation like playing ball, hiking or camping.
- Volunteer to help with your child’s after-school activities or sports.
Featured recipe: Broccoli Salad
Ingredients:
- 4 cups broccoli washed and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 3/4 cup radishes, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2½ tablespoons yogurt plain, low-fat
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice wine or apple cider vinegar
Instructions:
- In a medium bowl, combine broccoli, onions, raisins and radishes.
- In a small bowl, blend mayonnaise, yogurt, sugar and vinegar.
- Pour dressing over broccoli and mix well.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
(recipe from seasonal and simple app)
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