Adverts talk about it all the time. Even films have been made on the horrors of ignoring a good diet. No matter how tasty that cheeseburger is or that extra-large sirloin steak looks, you have to take into consideration the importance of healthy eating. For adults, the levels of fat differs between men and women as it is recommended that males consume no more than 95g of fat per day compared to women with 70g. Salt levels are at a standard level of 6g per day for both genders but for children these levels are considerably lower.
Bad Diet Choices
Whether it is their height or the mass of their body, as children start to grow they need fuel to continue the process of growth. No matter how tempting it is for parent to heat a ready meal, you should take into consideration that some of the food you eat is not suitable for your child. For example, a ready meal may contain excessive levels of salt, saturated fats and carbohydrates, which can impair the growth of your child. If they continue to eat ready meals on a regular basis their BMI will increase, which could put them at a medical disadvantage and make them overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese could lead to a diagnosis of diabetes. So, if you want to change your child’s diet what solutions are there?
Healthy eating for children should be an integral part child health. It is well documented that a child imitates older members of their family or social group and for them to see these people eating poor quality food might see them doing exactly the same.
Good Diet Choices
By encouraging your child to eat fresh fruit and vegetables from a young age means that they will become used to seeing this in their diet. Not every child will like every fruit portion you put on their plate but by changing their meals will enable you to find this out. Do not give your child large portions of one fruit or vegetable but encourage them to eat a variety of choices so they receive a range of vitamins. Making that positive connection with fruits and vegetables will enable them to have good memories of what they’ve eaten rather than negative ones. Remember, this might take years and is not a quick fix but for the health of your child it is certainly worth it.
