One of the most important jobs as a parent is to raise your children to grow up as healthy eaters. And while it’s easy to think that this job is best left for your partner, there are actually some dos and don’ts for raising a healthy eater, regardless of whether you’re a single parent, father, or mother. All you need to do is read on!

This post will cover everything from how never to argue about what goes into your kids’ mouths right down to what they should eat before going out trick or treating.

Let’s start with the do’s first:

1. DO taste your kids’ food (even if you don’t like it).

Children generally love to share their food, and they’ll enjoy showing you how to eat it. However, there will come a time when they won’t want to eat something that they’ve created themselves. Resist the urge to criticize the meal, but try tasting it. If you like what your child has cooked up, make sure to tell him or her that you do! It’s important for them to know that not everyone eats exactly the same thing that they do.

2. DO provide fresh and healthy snacks.

Whenever possible, try to lay down some carrot sticks and other healthy snacks at home before lunch and dinner time. This will keep your children interested and excited about what they’re going to eat throughout the day, rather than begging for unhealthy food from the outside world.

3. DO encourage them to try different things.

Some kids, no matter how much you try to encourage them, will refuse to eat new foods. This doesn’t mean you should force them to eat something they dislike, however. Encourage your kids to give something a shot and see if they like it. If they still refuse at the end of the day, don’t force it on them – just move on – and let their taste buds develop naturally as long as there aren’t any health problems involved in what they’re consuming.

4. DO buy high-quality food that tastes good and is healthy for your children.

Buy a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that taste good and are healthy. This will include things like carrots, blueberries, peas, strawberries, broccoli, leafy greens, and sweet potatoes.

5. DO find ways to help your kids try new foods that they normally wouldn’t eat.

This way they’ll be more likely to give them another shot in the future. This may include asking friends and relatives if they would share their recipes with you, or leaving healthy snacks around the house so that there’s no need for them to grab junk food when they’re hungry.

The Don’ts-

1. DON’T say that you’ll eat it if the food is in the trash. Unless you’re actually in a situation where there’s nothing else in your kitchen, never make this promise to your kids. Just don’t do it; end of rant.

2. DON’T make your kids eat what you make for yourself in front of them in order to convince them that they should eat healthier too.

3. Don’t force them to try different food in front of them in order to get them used to eat healthier foods. It’s much better for them to see the rewards of eating the foods you like before you try to get them to eat what you normally eat.

4. DON’T let grocery shopping be a power struggle. Don’t assume that spending money on healthy food is the norm, and therefore not spend any of your grocery money on it if it doesn’t make you feel guilty doing so. It’s important for your children to learn that healthy kids’ foods are just as good as junk food; they just aren’t worth spending money on. If your kids don’t know this already, this will help them understand the value of health foods and encourage moderation in their food intake.

5. DON’T say no right away or criticize their choices in front of them. It’s important for your children to know that not everything they make for themselves is going to taste good. It’s also important that they know that you don’t like everything they try and you will tell them why if it doesn’t taste good, even if it’s something like an avocado or lemonade.

Conclusion

It’s important for kids to drink plenty of water and eat healthy snacks. If they don’t, they could become dehydrated and malnourished. As well as that, it can lead them to eat unhealthy foods because they’re hungry and don’t know when their next meal is coming.

If your children refuse to eat healthy foods, or if they tend to snack on unhealthy food instead of drinking water, then it’s important that you take action before things get out of control. It may be time for you to take a more direct approach in helping them change their eating habits, even if they’re older than 13 years old.

Knowing what foods are most important for your child’s health can be overwhelming with all the information out there on fat content, sugar levels, calories, etc. The key is to keep it simple! Keep track of your child’s nutrition and start an exercise routine with them. Set aside a “fun” day at the park so you can play and let your kids get out and move around. And give them an opportunity to learn how to cook and prepare healthy foods at home.

When your children eat better, they’re more likely to benefit from the nutrition their body needs. They will enjoy better health, have greater energy, score higher on standardized tests, and develop positive habits that will last a lifetime.

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