Poor eating habits can have a devastating effect on the health of children. Parents who set food guidelines while their children are young can go a long way toward making sure that those healthy habits are continued into adulthood. Below are easy nutrition tips for your chidl/adolescent. These tips can help establish healthy eating habits for the entire family.
Kid-Friendly Nutrition Tips:
Encourage your child and family to follow these healthy food habits:
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Choose 1 percent or fat-free milk. This provides essential nutrients and minerals while limiting artery-clogging fat. (Whole milk is recommended through age two.)
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Eliminate cheese on sandwiches, unless its low-fat or fat-free. Although cheese adds much-needed calcium to a child's diet, full-fat varieties add unneeded saturated fat.
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Switch to low-fat luncheon meats. Keep lunches healthy by using turkey or chicken breast or low-fat ham, bologna or roast beef in sandwiches.
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Include at least one serving of fruit in every lunch. In addition to apples, oranges and bananas, try pears, sliced melon, applesauce cups, grapes or pineapple.
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Add vegetables such as lettuce, cucumber slices, tomato, green pepper or sweet onion on sandwiches.
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Use whole grain bread instead of white bread. Whole grains are rich in fiber.
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Limit cookies, snack cakes, doughnuts, brownies and other sweet baked goods.
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Pack baked chips, pretzels, Cheerios, bread sticks or low-fat crackers instead of potato, corn, tortilla or other chips made with oil.
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Be vigilant about beverages, including juices. Watch out for drinks that are only 10 percent juice or less-they're soft drinks in disguise. Pack 100-percent juice drinks instead. Water is always the healthiest option.
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Steer clear of pre-packaged lunches. Make your own healthy substitute with low-fat crackers, low-fat lunchmeat, fruit and a pure juice drink.
For More Information
For more information about the Healthy Family Adolescent Weight Management Program, please contact the Sara Lee Center for Women's Health at (336) 718-3780 or call toll free (888) 218-1234.
