Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : September 8, 2016 11:02 AM IST
When advertisements on TV are full of mouthwatering junk food, how can you make your kids choose healthy food?
If the school canteens and restaurants near the colleges are packed with vada pav and yummy burgers, what are the chances that your child will pick healthy food?
It is quite obvious that the child will end up eating junk. The question is when the child is at a tender age, it is the responsibility of the parents and the society to enable the kid choose healthy options. Dr Ramen Goel, Director, Bariatric Surgery, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai, shares a few tips on how parents can help kids in making healthy food choices.
1. Vote for homecooked food: While homecooked food is the best way to ensure your kid eats healthy and stays away from bingeing on junk food, it is not always possible to restrict a child from eating out. Cooking what your kid likes to eat at home and in a healthy way is the best thing to do. For example, if you kid likes pasta, then cutting down on the butter and ading more vegetables can help.
2. Be a role model for your kids: It is not done if you eat out every day and tell your kid to eat at home. It is your responsibility to be a role model for your kids. If you eat healthy food, your kids will follow what you do. And if you want your kid to follow any specific rules, then set an example by following the same. Try these simple tips to help your child eat better.
3. Create a healthy environment at home: If you stock loads of chocolates in a fridge or have a habit of coming back with sweet boxes quite often, then there are high chances that you child will indulge in the same. Creating a healthy environment at home is important to make your kid eat healthy food. So the next time you go out for grocery shopping, take your kid along and get some fresh fruits and vegetables rather than buying packs of chips, chocolates or packaged foods. Moreover, it will also help you. Here's how you can stop your kid from eating junk food.
4. Select healthy items even when eating out: When eating out make sure you choose healthy options for the child. However, if the kids insist on something different, then tell the chef to make it less oily/cheesy or add more vegetables. You can also make your kid eat salad by telling them the health benefits of different vegetables and fruits.
5. Pack healthy in tiffin boxes: Make sure you have a list of healthy and tasty tiffin box recipes in hand. Instead of giving parathas or sandwiches every day, you can make a healthy burger with brown bread, baked patties, with minimum cheese and loads of vegetables. Keep in mind that popular fast food items can be made in a healthy way. Here are 5 healthy recipes your kids will love!
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