Tips to Help Children Develop Better Eating Habits
A strong understanding of ideal dietary habits can provide many gains to children as they grow. Establishing good nutrition at a young age can help kids learn how to provide nourishment for their bodies during their life and diminish the possibility of chronic health concerns when they're older. Additionally, it can also boost how they feel at school, enhance their ability to partake in physical activities, and improve their quality of sleep.
Digestive Health Associates of Texas recognizes that proper nutrition can substantially impact children throughout their life. Given that September is recognized as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, we have provided information for parents and caregivers surrounding ideal dietary intake for kids, balanced meals and snacks for children, and lunchbox options for little ones. Please take a minute to read the following information and contact us to arrange a visit with one of our gastrointestinal (GI) specialists in Dallas, TX for help with any concerns or questions.
How can I help my child develop healthy nutritional habits?
Our GI specialists recommend a few approaches to help promote proper nutrition for healthy kids, including:
- Let your child help with the food preparation and cooking process. Doing so can offer the chance to talk with your child about healthy foods and dietary information while cooking or shopping. This experience may also allow kids to have a fun time learning about good eating habits while enjoying time spent with you. Additionally, your little one might be less prone to picky eating as they have a chance to understand more about your food selections.
- Utilize portion recommendations on food packaging panels and consider the list of ingredients. Educating your kid about nutrition labels and portion size can enable your child to learn how these factors affect their health.
- Avoid incorporating food as a reward or disciplinary technique. When you put your child to sleep without having dinner to punish them or use sugary foods as a prize for good behavior, it could complicate your child's relationship with eating over time.
- Control snack times and the choices of food. Snacking is an important component of eating healthy. We suggest that you establish a set time for snacking and the kinds of food your little one consumes. Additionally, while having these food items, try to keep your child from eating while watching TV. Eating in front of the TV could result in the overconsumption of food.
- Have meals as a family on a regular basis. Throughout dinner, keep the conversation positive so your family does not negatively associate eating with stress. Eating associated with stress could cause other issues later on.
What nutritious foods for kids should my child eat?
Our Dallas, TX pediatric gastrointestinal doctors recommend a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains, and protein. If possible, try to limit sugar and trans fat at meals and during snack time. By developing a diet that focuses on these quality food selections, you can help your family members feel more energetic and live a healthier life. For planning tips, check out a few of our favorite lunchbox choices for school-aged children:
- https://www.superhealthykids.com/recipes/kid-lunchbox-photo-roundup-90-healthy-lunches/
- https://www.thepinningmama.com/no-sandwich-lunch-box-ideas/
Where can I get more information about healthy foods for kids?
Aside from the information detailed here, our staff members wish to offer a comprehensive collection of tips for parents and caregivers, which can enable them to access the latest details about children’s nutrition. A selection of the resources we recommend are:
- https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/nutrition-age/teens/parents-caregivers-and-teachers
- https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/resources.html
- https://medlineplus.gov/childnutrition.html
- https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/default.aspx
At Digestive Health Associates of Texas, our professionals are passionate about helping kids build healthy habits early in life. Our pediatric gastrointestinal doctors frequently assist parents and caregivers in developing a proper diet for their little ones. Get in touch with our Dallas, TX gastrointestinal team to learn more about the positive effects of healthy eating habits or selecting good food options for children of all ages.